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Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

L.

Southern Prickly-ash

G4Apparently Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.157110
Element CodePDRUT0L050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSapindales
FamilyRutaceae
GenusZanthoxylum
Other Common Names
Hercules' club (EN) Hercules'-club (EN) Toothache-tree (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date2001-01-25
Change Date2001-01-31
Edition Date2001-01-25
Edition AuthorsKelly McConnell
Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis ranges from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas east through Florida and Virginia and abundance varies throughout the range. Z. clava-herculis is currently of limited demand in the commercial trade for medicinal plants, however all material in trade is wild-collected. The demand for Z. clava-herculis is currently greater than demand for Z. americanum.
Range Extent Comments
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is endemic to the eastern Coastal Plain, from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas east through Florida reaching as far north as Virginia.
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by timber harvest and land conversion to pine plantations (Schotz pers. comm., 2000).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

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

Habitat

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is considered "endemic" to the eastern coastal plain of the U.S. (Porter 1976). This species has been found growing under open and shaded conditions at low elevations. It tends to establish on sandy soils and in habitats such as dry to mesic dunes, pine barens, sandhills, and woodlands.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
TexasSNRYes
South CarolinaS4Yes
FloridaSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
North CarolinaS2Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
GeorgiaS3Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
VirginiaS3Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
Louisiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
References (12)
  1. Bentley, Andrew. Herbalist. Lexington, KY.
  2. Diggs, G.M., Jr., B.L. Lipscomb, and R.J. O'Kennon. 1999. Shinners and Mahler's Illustrated flora of north central Texas. Sida Botanical Miscellany No. 16. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Ft. Worth. 1626 pp.
  3. Edward J. Fletcher Strategic Sourcing, Inc.
  4. Foster, S., and J. Duke. 1990. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants- Eastern and Central North America. Peterson Field Guides Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 366 pp.
  5. Gleason, H.A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  8. Klein, Robyn. Instructor, Sweetgrass School of Herbalism. Personal communication.
  9. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  10. McGuffin, Michael. Personal communication. American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring MD
  11. Porter, D.M. 1976. Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in North America north of Mexico. Brittonia 28(4): 443-447.
  12. Schotz, Al. Personal communication. Community Ecologist. Alabama Natural Heritage Program. Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL