General: Rue Family (Rutaceae). It is an aromatic, native, perennial tree or shrub that can grow from 1 to 8 meters tall. The branches are dark brown and armed with 8 to 13 mm-long prickles. When broken, the twigs have a strong odor reminiscent of crushed lemon peel. The leaf buds (1mm long) are red and woolly. The leaves (1 to 30 cm long) are composed of 5 to 11 ovate, pinnately arranged leaflets (4 to 8 cm long). The dark green and lustrous leaves are dotted with translucent glands. The lower portion of the leaf is a lighter pubescent green beneath. The greenish-yellow flowers (3 to 3.5 mm wide) appear in the spring before the leaves. The small fruits are capsules (0.5 to 0.6 cm). Each fruit contains one seed. The fruit ripens in late summer, turning from green to reddish brown. When the seeds mature, they hang exposed from the split capsules.

Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Habitat: This plant occurs along riverbanks and in moist ravines, thickets, and woods. It is also found in somewhat drier areas such as upland rocky hillsides, bluffs, and open woods.

Northern prickly ash, toothache tree; this genus is incorrectly spelled Xanthoxylum in much of the literature.

Zanthoxylum americanum Mill.:
United States (North America)
Canada (North America)

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Zanthoxylum americanum grows from Oklahoma north to North Dakota, east to Southern Canada and New England and south to Florida.

Zanthoxylum americanum is distinguishable from Z. clava-herculis by the latter having bark with triangular, corky knobs. Z. clava-herculis is also a larger shrub, reaching 30 m tall (Foster and Duke 1990).

Comments: Zanthoxylum americanum is considered an eastern deciduous forest "endemic" and grows in shaded and partially shaded conditions in medium to low elevations (Porter 1976). It has been recorded on mesic bluffs, deciduous forests, mountains, river banks, stream banks, deciduous thickets and woodlands, moist woods and thickets (Porter 1976, Gleason and Cronquist 1991).

Common pricklyash is a very hearty tree or small shrub that does well in poor soils. Although easily grown, the plants are not generally used for landscape purposes as ornamentals. Because of the plants small yet sharp thorns and suckering habit, they can make an efficient barrier planting. The plants do well in partial shade to full sun. Seeds, suckers, and root cuttings may propagate pricklyash. The seeds may be gathered from the plants when the capsules are open. Unopened capsules will open upon drying. The seeds will require scarification to germinate, unless they are sown in the fall immediately after collecting them.

Zanthoxylum americanum (Prickly Ash)
(on staminate flowers, bees usually suck and less often collect pollen, while other insects suck nectar; on pistillate flowers, all insects suck nectar; observations are from Robertson)

On staminate flowers:

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn cp fq; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada cuneatus sn fq, Nomada luteola sn fq; Megachilidae (Osmiini): Osmia pumila sn fq

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlorella striata sn, Lasioglossum coriaceus sn, Lasioglossum cressonii sn, Lasioglossum imitatus sn cp fq, Lasioglossum versatus sn cp fq; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes inaequalis sn fq icp; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena cressonii sn fq, Andrena forbesii sn fq, Andrena imitatrix imitatrix sn fq, Andrena miserabilis bipunctata sn fq, Andrena sn rugosa fq, Andrena sayi sn fq

Wasps
Pompilidae: Priocnemis cornicus; Chrysididae: Chrysura pacifica

Flies
Syrphidae: Brachypalpus oarus, Toxomerus geminatus fq; Tachinidae: Gonia capitata fq

Beetles
Oedemeridae: Asclera puncticollis

On pistillate flowers:

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera fq; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina calcarata; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada cressonii, Nomada cuneatus fq, Nomada denticulata, Nomada illinoiensis fq, Nomada luteola fq, Nomada ovatus fq, Nomada sayi fq, Nomada sulphurata; Megachilidae (Osmiini): Osmia lignaria lignaria fq, Osmia pumila fq

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlorella striata, Augochloropsis metallica metallica, Augochloropsis sumptuosa fq, Halictus ligatus, Halictus rubicunda, Lasioglossum cinctipes, Lasioglossum foxii fq, Lasioglossum imitatus fq, Lasioglossum versatus fq, Lasioglossum zephyrus fq, Paralictus platyparius; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes inaequalis fq icp; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena cressonii fq, Andrena forbesii fq, Andrena hippotes, Andrena imitatrix imitatrix fq, Andrena mandibularis, Andrena miserabilis bipunctata fq, Andrena pruni fq, Andrena rugosa fq, Andrena sayi fq

Flies
Syrphidae: Epistrophe emarginata, Eristalis dimidiatus, Eupeodes americanus, Helophilus fasciatus, Orthonevra nitida, Sphaerophoria contiqua, Toxomerus geminatus fq; Conopidae: Myopa vesiculosa; Tachinidae: Archytas analis, Gonia capitata fq, Periscepsia clesides; Sarcophagidae: Ravinia derelicta; Calliphoridae: Phormia regina; Muscidae: Neomyia cornicina fq; Scathophagidae: Scathophaga furcata

Moths
Noctuidae: Anagrapha falcifera

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Zanthoxylum americanum ranges from Oklahoma to southern Canada, east to New England and south to Florida. This weedy species is relatively common in the western portion of the range, though occasional and rare throughout portions of the eastern range. Z. americanum is currently of limited demand in the commercial trade for medicinal plants, however all material in trade is wild-collected.

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Comments: According to Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association, there is currently "limited demand" for this species, which is considered to be "aggressive" in its growth habits (pers. comm., December 2000). The estimated average annual use in medicinal industry ranges from 2,000-5,000 dry pounds and 100% of that total is collected from wild populations (pers. comm. E. Fletcher, 2000).

Common pricklyash has no serious insect or disease problems.

These plant materials are not readily available from commercial sources. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Ethnobotanic: The Alabama, Cherokee, Chippewa, Comanche, Creek, Delaware, Iroquois, Oklahoma, Menominee, Meskwaki, Ojibwa, Pawnee, and Potawatomi were among the Native American tribes that used common pricklyash for many, mostly medicinal purposes. An infusion of the bark was used as a wash to treat itching skin and to treat swollen joints. Infusions of the bark were taken internally for back pain, cramps, pulmonary problems, to treat fevers, and as a cold and cough remedy. Infusions, made from the crushed roots, were also used to treat fevers. A poultice made from the inner bark was used to treated rheumatism and sharp pains. Placing the inner bark in the throat treated sore throats. The bark was boiled into a decoction that was taken to induce miscarriages. The plant was used to treat pain after childbirth. Bark infusions were taken to treat worms in adults. The bark of the roots was used to treat colic, rheumatism, and gonorrhea. An ointment, made my mixing the plant with bear grease, was applied to ulcers and sores. Infusions of the berries were used to spray on the chest and throat to treat bronchial diseases, to wash sores, and to flavor medicines. The bark and the berries were used to treat hemorrhages, to make cough syrup, as an expectorant, and to treat tuberculosis. Children who were weak were washed with a decoction of the bark to make their legs and feet strong. The bark was used in different forms to alleviate toothaches. Smoking the bark treated toothache. Bark, either beaten or powdered was packed in and around an aching tooth. Pieces of the bark were chewed to help breakup a tooth that was to be remove. The plant was an ingredient in compounds that were used for kidney trouble, to strengthen convalescing patients, and to induce vomiting. An infusion of the bark was, at least once, placed on a dog’s nose to improve its scenting capabilities during hunting. The fruits were administered as diuretics to horses. Young men of the Omaha tribe used a perfume made from the fruits. The plant is probably still used today for various purposes by various Native American tribes.

Wildlife: The fruits are eaten by a variety of birds and small mammals including bobwhite quails, vireos, pheasants, cottontails, and eastern chipmunks. Bees are attracted to the flowers. Giant swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on the plants leaves.