Nepal pepper, Prickly ash bark
Zanthoxylum armatum

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A spiny shrub. It grows about 3-6 m high. It can lose its leaves during the year. The bark is corky. The branches have strong prickles. The leaves have stalks. They are alternate. They are slightly winged. There are spines at the base. The leaves are 5-23 cm long. There are an odd number of leaflets. There are 3-9 leaflets. They are 2-10 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They do not have a leaf stalk. They are sword shaped and dotted with glands. The flowers are small and white. They occur in loose clusters. These can be at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are round and red. They split into two valves. There is a single seed in each section which is shiny and black.

There are about 200 Zanthoxylum species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in rainforest and often at higher elevations. In SE Asia it grows up to 1750 m altitude. In Nepal plants grow between 110-2900 m altitude. In Argentina it grows above 700 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Fresh fruit are pickled and also used as a spice. The seeds are used in seasoning for pickles and chutneys. The young twigs are used as a spice. The young leaves are used as a condiment including in beef curry. The shells of the fruit are dried and used for seasoning.

The twigs are sold in markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, twigs, spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or branch cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Ah hihlou, Akhiklou, Baletimur, Bhale timur, Bu ga, Changkao, Chi-it, D(aws)ng cay s(er)n gai, Dambara, Darmar, Dhiva, Gaira, Gandhalu, Ganya, Gawra-kha-nan-nan, G.yer-ma, Hling-hiar, Jajur, Khagi, Lingnamsia, Lu ga jian, Ma:d, Mak kak, Mejen, Mike-cup, Nech chi, Nepali dhaniya, Nepali thaniya, Ombae, Onier, Parpare timur, Prumo, Sibit-paklauit, Singzor, Sunguru-kung, Tambul, Tejphal, Taza-bo, Temro, Tezbal, Tezmal, Timal, Timbar, Timbat, Timbru, Timber, Timbur, Timru, Timur, Tirmir, Tsogok, Tumburu, Tumru, Tundopoda, Wild Chinese pepper, Winged prickly ash, Yer, Za la

Synonyms

Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb.; Zanthoxylum hostile Wall.; ? Zanthoxylum planispinum Sieb. & Zucc.; ? Zanthoxylum violaceum Wall.; ?