Zanthoxylum heterophyllum

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A tree. The trunk can be 30-50 cm across. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. The young leaves can have 30 pairs of leaflets. The older leaves have 3-6 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are narrowly oval and wedge shaped at the base. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are in groups of 100 flowers and females in groups of 60 flowers. They are yellow. The fruit are small and round or oval. They have a black seed.

It is a species at risk.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, bark - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Fagara heterophylla (Sm.) Lam.;