Green zanthoxylum, Aromatic zanthoxylum
Zanthoxylum schinifolium
Family: Rutaceae
What it is like
A shrub that loses its leaves. It grows 1-3 m high. It has prickles. The young branches are purple. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 11-21 leaflets and they are narrowly sword shaped and 2-5 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. Flowers are small and yellowish-green and of one sex. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. They are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit follicles are purple-red. The seeds are bluish-black and shiny.
There are about 200 Zanthoxylum species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is widespread in eastern Asia growing in forests. In China it grows in upland open forests below 800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Ryukyu, Taiwan
How it is used for food
The fruit are used fresh and dried as a spice.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit - spice, seeds - oil
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Inu-Zansho, Sanchonamu, Yai Chiao, Yeh Chiao