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.

生息地: Typically found in moist or rocky open woodlands, forest edges, thickets, and along riparian corridors.

外見

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.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Sapindales科Rutaceae属Zanthoxylum

Northern Prickly Ash

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

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.

特殊能力

Produces secondary metabolites like herculin in its bark and leaves, which numb oral tissues to deter mammalian herbivores.

Glands on the leaves secrete highly aromatic essential oils that repel destructive pests while attracting specific pollinators.

Possesses sharp, flat-based thorns along its twigs and petioles that physical protect the shrub from larger browsers.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 150-500 cm
寿命: 15-50 年

食性と食事

As a photosynthetic plant, it manufactures its own sugars using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while absorbing minerals through its root system.

主な食物

Sunlight
Water
Carbon dioxide
Soil nutrients

採餌方法

Photosynthesis

生態系とのつながり

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.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Northern Prickly Ashを見分けるには？

Northern Prickly Ashを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Northern Prickly Ashの長さは何ですか？

150-500 cm

Northern Prickly Ashの寿命は何ですか？

15-50 年

Northern Prickly Ashは何を食べますか？

As a photosynthetic plant, it manufactures its own sugars using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, while absorbing minerals through its root system.

Northern Prickly Ashは通常どこに生息していますか？

Typically found in moist or rocky open woodlands, forest edges, thickets, and along riparian corridors.

Northern Prickly Ashはどのように狩りをしますか？

Photosynthesis