Zanthoxylum scandens

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub or woody climber. It has prickles. The leaves have 5-25 leaflets. The leaflets are alternate or opposite. They are 4-10 cm long by 1.5-4 cm wide. The flowering shoots can be at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The flowers have 4 parts. The petals are pale yellow to green. The fruit are follicles that are purplish red. They are 4.5-5.5 mm across. The seeds are 4-5 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for flavouring.

Edible parts

Fruit - spice

How it is grown

In Yunnan plants flower March to May and fruit July to August.

Its other names

Local names

O ne e bi ne si, Wei

Synonyms

Zanthoxylum chinensis (Merr.) C. Chung; Zanthoxylum cuspidatum Champ. ex Benth.; Zanthoxylum cyrtorhachium (Hayata) C. C. Huang; Zanthoxylum laxifoliolatum (Hayata) C. C. Huang; Zanthoxylum leiorhachium (Hayata) C. C. Huang;