Indian prickly ash, Cape yellowwood
Zanthoxylum rhetsa

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 35 m tall. The trunk is long and straight. The crown is spreading. The bark is pale grey and has large stout woody prickles. It can lose its leaves during the year. These can be 2 cm long. The leaves are 15-65 cm long. They have leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-14 pairs. These are 7-18 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The end one is the largest. They are oval and taper to the tip. The flowers are pale green. They are small and usually of one sex. They are in long stalked clusters 8-20 cm long. They fruit are 6-9 mm long. They are in clusters of up to 100 fruit. They are pale green when young but turn pink or red.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forests between 500-1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Middle East, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The seeds, fruit skin and bark are used as flavouring. The tender leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The harvested leaves can be stored for 3 days. The young leaves are used for flavouring. The fruit are used to prepare pickles.

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, bark, flavouring, leaves, flower buds

How it is grown

In southern India plants fruit in June to September. In Sikkim in July and August.

Its other names

Local names

Aramaadala, Arempala, Arloso hanjor, Baharmani, Bajarmoni budrunga, Bajruli, Boketimur, Cheang, Ching-it, Chirphal, Dieng-soh-mirik, Jummina, Kadumenasu, Kothumirikku, Mai khean, Mak khaen, Mechme, Michangakoti, Mullilam, Mullilavu, Ngang, Onger esing, Petak, Petla kaayi, Singzual, Shumiccheng, Tenga nang, Tirphal, Tisal

Synonyms

Fagara budrunga Roxb.; Fagara parviflora (Benth.) Engl.; Fagara rhetsa Roxb.; Tipalia limonella Dennst.; Zanthoxylum budrunga DC.; Zanthoxylum crenatum Wall.; Zanthoxylum limonella (Dennst.) Alston; Zanthoxylum oblongum Wall.; Zanthoxylum parviflorum Benth.; Zanthoxylum rhetsum (Roxb.) St. Lag.;