234 Species of Genus Zanthoxylum

Zanthoxylum: A Prickly Passion of Mine

The world of plants is vast and diverse, filled with wonders that never cease to amaze me. As a botany enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for fascinating genera, and one that has particularly captured my attention is Zanthoxylum. This genus, belonging to the Rutaceae family, is a treasure trove of unique and intriguing species. Let’s dive into the world of Zanthoxylum and explore what makes it so special.

A Global Citizen

Zanthoxylum is a truly global citizen, with species found in warm temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. From the Americas to Asia, Africa, and Australia, these plants have adapted to a variety of environments. This wide distribution has led to a remarkable diversity within the genus, with over 200 recognized species.

Prickly Personalities

One of the most distinctive features of Zanthoxylum is the presence of prickles or spines on their bark and branches. These sharp defenses serve as a deterrent to herbivores, protecting the plants from being eaten. The prickles can vary in size and shape depending on the species, adding to the visual interest of these plants.

Aromatic Adventures

Zanthoxylum plants are not just prickly; they’re also known for their aromatic qualities. Many species contain aromatic oils in their leaves, fruits, and bark. These oils often have a citrusy or peppery scent, which can be quite pungent in some cases. This aromatic nature has led to the use of various Zanthoxylum species in traditional medicine and culinary practices around the world.

A Diverse Family

The genus Zanthoxylum encompasses a wide array of plant forms, from shrubs to trees. Some species are deciduous, shedding their leaves seasonally, while others are evergreen, retaining their foliage year-round. This diversity in growth habits and leaf characteristics contributes to the overall appeal of Zanthoxylum.

Species List

  1. Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.
  2. Zanthoxylum aculeatissimum Engl.
  3. Zanthoxylum acuminatum (Sw.) Sw.
  4. Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Siebold & Zucc.
  5. Zanthoxylum albiflorum Baker f.
  6. Zanthoxylum albuquerquei D.R.Simpson
  7. Zanthoxylum amamiense Ohwi
  8. Zanthoxylum amapaense (Albuq.) P.G.Waterman
  9. Zanthoxylum americanum Mill.
  10. Zanthoxylum amplicalyx Reynel
  11. Zanthoxylum anadenium (Urb. & Ekman) J.Jiménez Alm.
  12. Zanthoxylum andamanicum Kurz
  13. Zanthoxylum andinum Reynel
  14. Zanthoxylum anison L.O.Williams
  15. Zanthoxylum anthyllidifolium Guillaumin
  16. Zanthoxylum apiculatum (Sandwith) P.G.Waterman
  17. Zanthoxylum arborescens Rose
  18. Zanthoxylum armatum DC.
  19. Zanthoxylum asiaticum (L.) Appelhans, Groppo & J.Wen
  20. Zanthoxylum atchoum (Aké Assi) P.G.Waterman
  21. Zanthoxylum austrosinense C.C.Huang
  22. Zanthoxylum avicennae (Lam.) DC.
  23. Zanthoxylum backeri (Bakh.f.) T.G.Hartley
  24. Zanthoxylum bajarnandia Wall. ex Hook.f.
  25. Zanthoxylum beecheyanum K.Koch
  26. Zanthoxylum bifoliolatum Leonard
  27. Zanthoxylum bissei Beurton
  28. Zanthoxylum bonifaziae Cornejo & Reynel
  29. Zanthoxylum bouetense (Pierre ex Letouzey) P.G.Waterman
  30. Zanthoxylum brachyacanthum F.Muell.
  31. Zanthoxylum brisasanum (Cuatrec.) P.G.Waterman
  32. Zanthoxylum brisoferox Reynel
  33. Zanthoxylum buesgenii (Engl.) P.G.Waterman
  34. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.
  35. Zanthoxylum burkillianum Babu
  36. Zanthoxylum calcicola C.C.Huang
  37. Zanthoxylum campicola Reynel
  38. Zanthoxylum canalense (Guillaumin) P.G.Waterman
  39. Zanthoxylum capense (Thunb.) Harv.
  40. Zanthoxylum caribaeum Lam.
  41. Zanthoxylum caudatum Alston
  42. Zanthoxylum celebicum Koord.
  43. Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl.
  44. Zanthoxylum chevalieri P.G.Waterman
  45. Zanthoxylum chocoense Reynel
  46. Zanthoxylum chuquisaquense Reynel
  47. Zanthoxylum ciliatum Engl.
  48. Zanthoxylum claessensii (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman
  49. Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L.
  50. Zanthoxylum coco Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.
  51. Zanthoxylum collinsiae Craib
  52. Zanthoxylum comosum (Herzog) P.G.Waterman
  53. Zanthoxylum compactum (Huber ex Albuq.) P.G.Waterman
  54. Zanthoxylum complexum Reynel
  55. Zanthoxylum conspersipunctatum Merr. & L.M.Perry
  56. Zanthoxylum cucullatipetalum Guillaumin
  57. Zanthoxylum davyi (I.Verd.) P.G.Waterman
  58. Zanthoxylum decaryi H.Perrier
  59. Zanthoxylum delagoense P.G.Waterman
  60. Zanthoxylum deremense (Engl.) Kokwaro
  61. Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllum Hemsl.
  62. Zanthoxylum dinklagei (Engl.) P.G.Waterman
  63. Zanthoxylum dipetalum H.Mann
  64. Zanthoxylum dissitum Hemsl.
  65. Zanthoxylum djalma-batistae (Albuq.) P.G.Waterman
  66. Zanthoxylum domingense (Krug & Urb.) J.Jiménez Alm.
  67. Zanthoxylum dumosum A.Rich.
  68. Zanthoxylum echinocarpum Hemsl.
  69. Zanthoxylum ekmanii (Urb.) Alain
  70. Zanthoxylum eliasii D.M.Porter
  71. Zanthoxylum esquirolii H.Lév.
  72. Zanthoxylum fagara (L.) Sarg.
  73. Zanthoxylum fauriei (Nakai) Ohwi
  74. Zanthoxylum finlaysonianum Wall.
  75. Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl
  76. Zanthoxylum foliolosum Donn.Sm.
  77. Zanthoxylum forbesii T.G.Hartley
  78. Zanthoxylum formiciferum (Cuatrec.) P.G.Waterman
  79. Zanthoxylum gardneri Engl.
  80. Zanthoxylum gentryi Reynel
  81. Zanthoxylum gillespieanum (A.C.Sm.) A.C.Sm.
  82. Zanthoxylum gilletii (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman
  83. Zanthoxylum glomeratum C.C.Huang
  84. Zanthoxylum grandifolium Tul.
  85. Zanthoxylum haitiense (Urb.) J.Jiménez Alm.
  86. Zanthoxylum hamadryadicum Pirani
  87. Zanthoxylum harrisii P.Wilson
  88. Zanthoxylum hartii (Krug & Urb.) P.Wilson
  89. Zanthoxylum hawaiiense Hillebr.
  90. Zanthoxylum heitzii (Aubrév. & Pellegr.) P.G.Waterman
  91. Zanthoxylum heterophyllum (Lam.) Sm.
  92. Zanthoxylum holtzianum (Engl.) P.G.Waterman
  93. Zanthoxylum huangianum Z.H.Chen & Feng Chen
  94. Zanthoxylum huberi P.G.Waterman
  95. Zanthoxylum humile (E.A.Bruce) P.G.Waterman
  96. Zanthoxylum impressinervium Reynel
  97. Zanthoxylum impressocordatum Reynel
  98. Zanthoxylum integrifoliolum (Merr.) Merr.
  99. Zanthoxylum integrum Aver.
  100. Zanthoxylum iwahigense Elmer
  101. Zanthoxylum jamaicense P.Wilson
  102. Zanthoxylum kallunkiae Reynel
  103. Zanthoxylum kauaense A.Gray
  104. Zanthoxylum khasianum Hook.f.
  105. Zanthoxylum kleinii (R.S.Cowan) P.G.Waterman
  106. Zanthoxylum kwangsiense (Hand.-Mazz.) Chun ex C.C.Huang
  107. Zanthoxylum laetum Drake
  108. Zanthoxylum laurentii (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman
  109. Zanthoxylum leiboicum C.C.Huang
  110. Zanthoxylum lemairei (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman
  111. Zanthoxylum lenticellosum (Urb. & Ekman) J.Jiménez Alm.
  112. Zanthoxylum lenticulare Reynel
  113. Zanthoxylum lepidopteriphilum Reynel
  114. Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. & Perr.
  115. Zanthoxylum leratii Guillaumin
  116. Zanthoxylum liboense C.C.Huang
  117. Zanthoxylum limoncello Planch. & Oerst.
  118. Zanthoxylum lindense (Engl.) Kokwaro
  119. Zanthoxylum macranthum (Hand.-Mazz.) C.C.Huang
  120. Zanthoxylum madagascariense Baker
  121. Zanthoxylum magnifasciculatum Reynel
  122. Zanthoxylum magnifructum Reynel
  123. Zanthoxylum mananarense H.Perrier
  124. Zanthoxylum mantaro (J.F.Macbr.) J.F.Macbr.
  125. Zanthoxylum maranionense Reynel
  126. Zanthoxylum martinicense (Lam.) DC.
  127. Zanthoxylum mauriifolium Reynel
  128. Zanthoxylum mayu Bertero
  129. Zanthoxylum megistophyllum (B.L.Burtt) T.G.Hartley
  130. Zanthoxylum melanostictum Schltdl. & Cham.
  131. Zanthoxylum mezoneurispinosum (Aké Assi) W.D.Hawth.
  132. Zanthoxylum micranthum Hemsl.
  133. Zanthoxylum mildbraedii (Engl.) P.G.Waterman
  134. Zanthoxylum minahassae Koord.
  135. Zanthoxylum molle Rehder
  136. Zanthoxylum mollissimum (Engl.) P.Wilson
  137. Zanthoxylum monogynum A.St.-Hil.
  138. Zanthoxylum motuoense C.C.Huang
  139. Zanthoxylum multijugum Franch.
  140. Zanthoxylum myriacanthum Wall. ex Hook.f.
  141. Zanthoxylum myrianthum (A.C.Sm.) P.G.Waterman
  142. Zanthoxylum nadeaudii Drake
  143. Zanthoxylum nashii P.Wilson
  144. Zanthoxylum nebuletorum (Herzog) P.G.Waterman
  145. Zanthoxylum nemorale Mart.
  146. Zanthoxylum neocaledonicum Baker f.
  147. Zanthoxylum nigrum Mart.
  148. Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC.
  149. Zanthoxylum novoguineense T.G.Hartley
  150. Zanthoxylum oahuense Hillebr.
  151. Zanthoxylum oreophilum (Guillaumin) P.G.Waterman
  152. Zanthoxylum ovalifolium Wight
  153. Zanthoxylum ovatifoliolatum (Engl.) Finkelstein
  154. Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew.
  155. Zanthoxylum palustre Londoño-Ech. & Reynel
  156. Zanthoxylum panamense P.Wilson
  157. Zanthoxylum pancheri P.S.Green
  158. Zanthoxylum paniculatum Balf.f.
  159. Zanthoxylum paracanthum (Mildbr.) Kokwaro
  160. Zanthoxylum paulae (Albuq.) P.G.Waterman
  161. Zanthoxylum pentandrum (Aubl.) R.A.Howard
  162. Zanthoxylum petenense Lundell
  163. Zanthoxylum petiolare A.St.-Hil. & Tul.
  164. Zanthoxylum phyllopterum (Griseb.) C.Wright
  165. Zanthoxylum piasezkii Maxim.
  166. Zanthoxylum pilosiusculum (Engl.) P.G.Waterman
  167. Zanthoxylum pilosulum Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  168. Zanthoxylum pimpinelloides (Lam.) DC.
  169. Zanthoxylum pinnatum (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) W.R.B.Oliv.
  170. Zanthoxylum piperitum (L.) DC.
  171. Zanthoxylum pluviatile T.G.Hartley
  172. Zanthoxylum pluvimontanum Reynel & D.Tarazona
  173. Zanthoxylum poggei (Engl.) P.G.Waterman
  174. Zanthoxylum psammophilum (Aké Assi) P.G.Waterman
  175. Zanthoxylum pseudoxyphyllum Babu
  176. Zanthoxylum pteracanthum Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  177. Zanthoxylum pucro D.M Porter
  178. Zanthoxylum punctatum Vahl
  179. Zanthoxylum quassiifolium (Donn.Sm.) Standl. & Steyerm.
  180. Zanthoxylum quinduense Tul.
  181. Zanthoxylum renieri (G.C.C.Gilbert) P.G.Waterman
  182. Zanthoxylum retroflexum T.G.Hartley
  183. Zanthoxylum retusum (Albuq.) P.G.Waterman
  184. Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) DC.
  185. Zanthoxylum rhodoxylon (Urb.) P.Wilson
  186. Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam.
  187. Zanthoxylum rhombifoliolatum C.C.Huang
  188. Zanthoxylum riedelianum Engl.
  189. Zanthoxylum rigidum Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
  190. Zanthoxylum rubescens Planch. ex Hook.
  191. Zanthoxylum sambucirhachis Reynel
  192. Zanthoxylum sarasinii Guillaumin
  193. Zanthoxylum scandens Blume
  194. Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold & Zucc.
  195. Zanthoxylum schlechteri Guillaumin
  196. Zanthoxylum schreberi (J.F.Gmel.) Reynel ex C.Nelson
  197. Zanthoxylum setulosum P.Wilson
  198. Zanthoxylum simulans Hance
  199. Zanthoxylum spinosum (Sw.) Sw.
  200. Zanthoxylum sprucei Engl.
  201. Zanthoxylum stelligerum Turcz.
  202. Zanthoxylum stenophyllum Hemsl.
  203. Zanthoxylum subspicatum H.Perrier
  204. Zanthoxylum syncarpum (Tul.) Tul. ex B.D.Jacks.
  205. Zanthoxylum taediosum A.Rich.
  206. Zanthoxylum tambopatense Reynel
  207. Zanthoxylum tenuipedicellatum (Kokwaro) Vollesen
  208. Zanthoxylum tetraphyllum (Urb. & Ekman) J.Jiménez Alm.
  209. Zanthoxylum tetraspermum Wight & Arn.
  210. Zanthoxylum thomense (Engl.) A.Chev. ex P.G.Waterman
  211. Zanthoxylum thorncroftii (I.Verd.) P.G.Waterman
  212. Zanthoxylum thouvenotii H.Perrier
  213. Zanthoxylum tidorense Miq.
  214. Zanthoxylum timoriense Span.
  215. Zanthoxylum tingana Reynel
  216. Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba A.St.-Hil.
  217. Zanthoxylum tomentellum Hook.f.
  218. Zanthoxylum tragodes (L.) DC.
  219. Zanthoxylum trijugum (Dunkley) P.G.Waterman
  220. Zanthoxylum tsihanimposa H.Perrier
  221. Zanthoxylum undulatifolium Hemsl.
  222. Zanthoxylum unifoliolatum Groppo & Pirani
  223. Zanthoxylum usambarense (Engl.) Kokwaro
  224. Zanthoxylum usitatum Pierre ex Laness.
  225. Zanthoxylum venosum Leonard
  226. Zanthoxylum verrucosum (Cuatrec.) P.G.Waterman
  227. Zanthoxylum vinkii T.G.Hartley
  228. Zanthoxylum viride (A.Chev.) P.G.Waterman
  229. Zanthoxylum vitiense A.C.Sm.
  230. Zanthoxylum wutaiense I.S.Chen
  231. Zanthoxylum xichouense C.C.Huang
  232. Zanthoxylum yakumontanum (Sugim.) Nagam.
  233. Zanthoxylum yuanjiangensis C.C.Huang
  234. Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Lam.) Zepern. & Timler

More Than Just Prickles

While the prickles might be the most noticeable feature of Zanthoxylum, these plants offer much more than just sharp defenses. Their aromatic oils, diverse growth habits, and ecological roles make them a fascinating subject of study. Whether you’re a botanist, a gardener, or simply a nature enthusiast, Zanthoxylum is a genus worth exploring.

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