Northern Prickly Ash
ExplorarPlantas
Northern Prickly Ash
zanthoxylum americanum
The Northern Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) is a fascinating, aromatic shrub native to North America. Despite its common name and ash-like pinnate leaves, it is not a true ash at all, but rather a member of the citrus family (Rutaceae). This understory specialist is historically famous for its medicinal qualities, particularly its ability to alleviate toothaches. When any part of the plant—especially the bark or leaves—is chewed, it releases active chemical compounds that induce a powerful tingling and numbing sensation in the mouth.
Hábitat: Typically found in moist or rocky open woodlands, forest edges, thickets, and along riparian corridors.
Aspecto
This deciduous shrub typically grows between 150 to 500 centimeters tall, forming dense, multi-stemmed thickets. Its most defining physical features are the sharp, dark-brown prickles paired at the bases of its pinnate compound leaves, which consist of 5 to 11 ovate leaflets. In spring, before the leaves fully expand, it produces small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers. By late summer, these develop into small, clustered, bumpy reddish-brown seed capsules that split open to reveal shiny black seeds, all while emitting a strong, citrusy aroma when crushed.
ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenSapindalesFamiliaRutaceaeGéneroZanthoxylum
Categoría
PlantasRareza
Common
Peligro
1/5 · Muy bajo
Snaps
¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!
Datos interesantes
Because it belongs to the citrus family (Rutaceae), its leaves contain oil glands that emit a fragrant, lemon-like scent when bruised.
Native Americans and early European pioneers chewed the bark of this plant to relieve severe toothaches, leading to its famous nickname, the 'Toothache Tree'.
While most mammalian browsers avoid it due to the sharp prickles and numbing chemicals, it is highly sought after by specialized lepidopteran larvae.
Habilidades especiales
Habilidad
Natural Anesthetic
Produces secondary metabolites like herculin in its bark and leaves, which numb oral tissues to deter mammalian herbivores.
Habilidad
Citrus Defense Aromatics
Glands on the leaves secrete highly aromatic essential oils that repel destructive pests while attracting specific pollinators.
Habilidad
Prickly Armor
Possesses sharp, flat-based thorns along its twigs and petioles that physical protect the shrub from larger browsers.
Medidas y detalles
- Longitud
- 150-500 cm
- Esperanza de vida
- 15-50 años
Dieta y alimentación
As a photosynthetic plant, it manufactures its own sugars using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while absorbing minerals through its root system.
Alimentos principales
- Sunlight
- Water
- Carbon dioxide
- Soil nutrients
Método de búsqueda
- Photosynthesis
Conexiones ecológicas
host plant
Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes
Serves as a vital host plant for caterpillars of Canada's largest butterfly.
mutualism
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Feeds on the small yellow-green spring flowers to harvest nectar.
eaten by
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Consumes the ripe red berries in late autumn and disperses the seeds.
Rasgos
Aún no hay insignias de rasgos asignadas a este objeto.
También conocido como
Todavía no hay alias listados.
Colecciones
Las colecciones para este objeto aparecerán aquí a medida que se añadan más temas.
Seguridad
Peligro
1/5 · Muy bajo
Todavía no hay notas especiales de seguridad.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Cómo identificar a Northern Prickly Ash?
La forma más fácil de identificar a Northern Prickly Ash es usar la aplicación de identificación de naturaleza Snappit.
¿Cuál es el longitud de Northern Prickly Ash?
150-500 cm
¿Cuál es el esperanza de vida de Northern Prickly Ash?
15-50 años
¿Qué come Northern Prickly Ash?
As a photosynthetic plant, it manufactures its own sugars using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while absorbing minerals through its root system.
¿Dónde se encuentra normalmente Northern Prickly Ash?
Typically found in moist or rocky open woodlands, forest edges, thickets, and along riparian corridors.
¿Cómo caza Northern Prickly Ash?
Photosynthesis
Mapa de snaps
Acércate para separar los grupos y explorar dónde se ha fotografiado este objeto.
Cargando mapa…
Snaps recientes
Los snaps recientes aparecerán aquí a medida que se añadan nuevas observaciones.
