Zanthoxylum asiaticum (L.) Appelhans, Groppo & J.Wen

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/145825034/145825036

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

A scrambling or climbing, retrorsely aculeolate shrub; young branches minutely rusty pubescent or glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets sessile, elliptic or obovate or oblanceolate, 3–8 cm. long, 1.3–3 cm. wide, acuminate or obtuse at the apex, entire or slightly crenulate; midrib prominent and occasionally aculeolate on the lower surface; lateral nerves numerous but not raised; conspicuously glandular on both surfaces; petiole 1–4 cm. long, grooved above and persistently pubescent in the groove, sometimes aculeolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence ferruginous-pubescent; bracts linear, 0.8–1.3 mm. long, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually in cymose clusters on the panicle branches, unisexual by abortion; pedicels 1–3 mm. long. Female flowers with a very short style and 3–5-lobed stigma; 5 staminodes present. Male flowers with ovate anthers 1 mm. long; rudimentary ovary glabrous, with a long 5-ribbed style.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx small, with 5 acute lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals triangular-lanceolate, ± 2.5 mm. long, yellow.

sex Male

Male flowers with ovate anthers 1 mm. long; rudimentary ovary glabrous, with a long 5-ribbed style.

sex Female

Female flowers with a very short style and 3–5-lobed stigma; 5 staminodes present.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 7–10 mm. across, orange when ripe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3–4 mm. long, dark brown, smooth.

Figures

Fig 1.

Habitat

Forest edges, bushland and wooded grassland; 1–2800 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7

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

Morphology General Habit

Sarmentose or climbing shrubs, retrorsely aculeolate; young branches and leaves ferruginous-pubescent, glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole 1–4 cm. long, grooved above and persistently pubescent in the groove, sometimes aculeolate; leaflets sessile; lamina 3–7 (8) × 1·2–3 cm., elliptic or obovate or oblanceolate, that of the lateral leaflets asymmetric, chartaceous, conspicuously glandular on both surfaces, apex shortly acuminate or obtuse, margin entire or slightly crenulate; midrib prominent on the lower surface and occasionally aculeolate; lateral nerves and veins numerous, not raised.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence shorter or as long as the subtending leaf, ferruginous-pubescent; bracts 0·8–1·3 mm. long, linear, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 5-merous, unisexual by abortion, usually in cymose clusters on the panicle-branches; pedicels 1–3 mm. long, acute, caducous. Female flowers not seen. Male flowers: stamens as long as the petals; anthers 1 mm. long, 2-lobed, ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2·5 mm. long, valvate.

sex Male

Male flowers: stamens as long as the petals; anthers 1 mm. long, 2-lobed, ovate.

sex Female

Female flowers not seen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 7–8 mm. in diam., drupaceous, 3–5 (7)-locular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 4 mm. long, reniform; testa dark brown, hard, smooth; endosperm fleshy.