Zanthoxylum L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 270 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Cosmopolitan.

Descriptions

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Plants dioecious or polygamous; flowers small, white to greenish-yellow, unisexual and/or bisexual, in axillary short spikes or clusters or in terminal or axillary panicles Trees or shrubs, often more or less prickly; bark aromatic; leaves alternate, even- or odd- pinnate, or rarely 1-foliolate; leaflets opposite or alternate, frequently inequilateral, crenulate or entire, usually glandular-punctate (at least along the margin), and the rhachis often winged
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 3–5-cleft, deciduous or persistent, or rarely lacking; petals 3–5(–10)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Staminate flowers with 3–5 hypogynous stamens
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Pistillate flowers without stamens or with scale-like staminodes; carpels 1–5, distinct or partially united, on an elevated fleshy gynophore, each 1-locular with 2 pendulous ovules in each locule
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits dry, of separate 2-valved follicles, each with 1 shining black seed; seeds with fleshy endosperm, at maturity often hanging from the carpels on slender funicles.
Distribution
A pantropical genus of about 215 species, a few occurring in temperate regions.
[Cayman]

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution
Some 250 species, mainly in the tropics but extending to temperate areas.
Morphology General Habit
Trees and shrubs, dioecious, usually with prickles on stems and leaf-rhachides, often persisting as woody prickle-tipped bosses on trunk
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, imparipinnate; leaflets dotted with translucent glands
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in terminal or axillary panicles, 4–5-merous, with distinct calyx and petals (in Somalia) or a single whorl of perianth-lobes Female flowers with rudimentary staminodes and 1–2 free carpels on short gynophore; ovules 2 per carpel; styles lateral-Fruit of 1–2 subglobose, gland-pitted follicles Male flowers with 4–5 stamens and a vestigial pistillode
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds subglobose, black, shiny.
[FSOM]

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs, trees or climbers to 25 m tall. Spines or prickles usually present on branchlets
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, unifoliolate, imparipinnate or paripinnate with 2–15 pairs of leaflets, leaflets usually opposite (in New Guinea), petiolules articulated, rachis sometimes winged, margins entire or crenate, gland dots present or absent. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemose, cymose or paniculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually unisexual and plants dioecious or monoecious, 4–5-merous; perianth undifferentiated or differentiated; stamens 4–6; disk flat to pulvinate; ovary apocarpous with 1–5 carpels, each 1-locular, sometimes partly fused; styles converging to completely fused, stigmas capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit composed of 1–5 dehiscent follicles, each 2-valved, pericarp glandular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed 1 per follicle, held in fruit by persistent funiculus, testa shiny, black.
Distribution
In New Guinea, Zanthoxylum is found in rain forests and montane forest, most commonly between 1500–2000 m, but recorded from low elevations up to 3000 m. A pantropical genus of about 200 species, in general species diversity is lower in Asia than in other tropical areas. Eight species in New Guinea (three endemic), two species in the Solomon Islands.
Recognition
The genus can be recognised by the presence of spines or prickles, the compound leaves with usually more than 3 opposite leaflets, the many-flowered inflorescences of unisexual flowers, which often have an undifferentiated perianth, and the follicular fruit with long-persistent, shiny, black seeds.
[TONG]

Rutaceae, J.O. Kokwaro (University of Nairobi). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1982

Morphology General Habit
Deciduous or evergreen aculeate shrubs or trees; trunk usually with bosses
Morphology Leaves
Leaves imparipinnate, alternate; leaflets (1–)2–12(or more)-jugate, opposite or alternate1 sessile to petiolulate, usually ± asymmetric, crenulate, serrate or entire, dotted with pellucid glands
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of terminal and/or axillary panicles or of racemes borne at the base of new branches below the leaves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers unisexual by abortion, usually on separate plants, 4–5-merous Male flowers: stamens opposite the sepals; gynophore short; ovary vestigial Female flowers: staminodes rudimentary; gynophore short; ovary of 1–2 carpels (1 sometimes aborts), each 1-locular and with 2 subapical collateral pendulous ovules (1 aborts); style terete, oblique, incurved; stigma discoid or subcapitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals usually persistent and very small
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals valvate or slightly imbricate
sex Male
Male flowers: stamens opposite the sepals; gynophore short; ovary vestigial
sex Female
Female flowers: staminodes rudimentary; gynophore short; ovary of 1–2 carpels (1 sometimes aborts), each 1-locular and with 2 subapical collateral pendulous ovules (1 aborts); style terete, oblique, incurved; stigma discoid or subcapitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a subglobose dehiscent 1-seeded follicle or pair of follicles, glandular-foveolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed subglobose, black, shiny.
[FTEA]

Rutaceae, F. A. Mendoça. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit
Deciduous or evergreen aculeate trees or shrubs; trunk usually with bosses.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, imparipinnate; leaflets (1) 2–12 (or more)-jugate, opposite or alternate, sessile or petiolulate, usually ± asymmetric; lamina crenulate, serrate or entire, dotted with pellucid glands (sometimes only in the marginal sinuses).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of terminal or axillary and terminal panicles, or of racemes borne at the base of new branches below the leaves.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers unisexual by abortion, dioecious (in our area), 4–5-merous. Male flowers: stamens opposite the sepals; gynophore short; ovary vestigial. Female flowers: staminodes vestigial, opposite the sepals (in our area); gynophore short; ovary of 1 carpel, or rarely of 2 carpels of which 1 aborts (in our area), 1-locular, with 2 subapical collateral pendulous ovules (1 aborted); style terete, shorter than the ovary, oblique, incurved; stigma discoid or subcapitate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals very small, usually persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals valvate or slightly imbricate, much longer than the sepals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a globose or subglobose dehiscent 1 -seeded follicle, stipitate or subsessile, glandular-foveolate, usually with the seed hanging from the detached placenta during dehiscence.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed 4 globose, black, shiny.
[FZ]

Rutaceae, F. A. Mendoça. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit
Sarmentose or climbing shrubs; branches, leaves and inflorescences aculeate.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, 3-fbliolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of axillary and terminal panicles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers small, 5-merous, unisexual by abortion. Male flowers: stamens 5, inserted at the base of a short gynophore, opposite the sepals; filaments filiform; anthers introrse; ovary vestigial, conical. Female flowers: staminodes filiform; ovary on a short gynophore, 5–7-locular, with 2 ovules in each loculus; stigma disk-shaped, 5-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals united to form a cupuliforrn 5-dentate calyx.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free, imbricate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit globose, drupaceous with woody endocarp, 3–7-locular; loculi 1-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds reniform, oblong; testa thick; cotyledons linear.
[FZ]

Rutaceae, J.O. Kokwaro (University of Nairobi). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1982

Morphology General Habit
Woody scramblers; branches usually armed with prickles
Morphology Leaves
Leaves trifoliolate, alternate, sometimes aculeate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of axillary and terminal panicles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers unisexual by abortion, 5-merous, small Female flowers: staminodes filiform; ovary on a short gynophore, 5–7-locular, with 2 ovules in each locule; stigma 3–5-lobed, disk-shaped Male flowers: stamens 5, inserted at the base of a short gynophore, opposite the sepals; filaments filiform; ovary vestigial
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals united to form a cupuliform 5-dentate calyx
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free, imbricate
sex Male
Male flowers: stamens 5, inserted at the base of a short gynophore, opposite the sepals; filaments filiform; ovary vestigial
sex Female
Female flowers: staminodes filiform; ovary on a short gynophore, 5–7-locular, with 2 ovules in each locule; stigma 3–5-lobed, disk-shaped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit globose, drupaceous, with woody endocarp, 3–7-locular, locule 1-seeded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed oblong-reniform; testa thick; cotyledons linear.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
  • Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China

    • The Malesian Key Group (2010) Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China (Version 2.0, 28 Jul 2010) The Nationaal Herbarium Nederland Leiden and The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Neotropikey

    • Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0