Common Name(s): | Hercules'-Club Prickly Ash, Prickly Ash, Ash,Hercules'-club, Tickle Tongue |
Scientific Name: | Zanthoxylum clava-herculis |
Family: | Rutaceae |
Longevity: | Perennial |
Season: | Cool |
Origin: | Native |
Height: | 7 m |
Flowers: | April - May |
Fruits: | Summer |
Description: A medium-sized tree with a rounded crown found on moist sites in forest understory and
along fences in the south eastern U.S. Branches and stems equipped with short, stout spines. Bark is thin and smooth with corky-based spines. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. Leaflets may range from 7 to 17 and are narrowly ovate in shape. The common name and Latin name refer to the club-like appearance of the branches. Also commonly called tickle tongue, because of the mouth numbing sensation caused when chewing the leaves. Historically used to relieve toothache. The fruit is eaten by some species of birds and the leaves are occasionally browsed by white-tailed deer. |