Lime prickly ash
Zanthoxylum fagara

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. The crown is round and spreading. The trunk is often leaning. The gland dots on the leaves, flowers and fruit have an aroma. It grows 7.6 m high. The trunk is 20 cm wide. The leaves are compound. They are 7.5-10 cm long. There are 5-13 leaflets along the stalk. These are 1-2.5 cm long. They have wavy teeth beyond the middle. They narrow to the base. The leaves are thick and leathery. They are shiny green above and paler underneath. The flowers are 3 mm wide. The flowers are in small clusters 12 mm wide. The petals are yellow-green. The fruit are 5 mm long and pod like. They are brown and warty. They are in clusters along the twigs.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist soils near the sea coast. It grows up to 150 m altitude in the SE region of USA. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guiana, Haiti, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Mexico, North America, Paraguay, South America, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Bark - spice, leaves - spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Colima

Synonyms

Fagara microphylla sensu Griseb. non Desf.; Fagara pterota L.; Schinus fagara L.;