About Zanthoxylum simulans Hance
Zanthoxylum simulans Hance, commonly known as Chinese-pepper, Chinese prickly-ash, or flatspine prickly-ash, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Rutaceae. It is native to central and southern China, Taiwan, and South Korea. This species is one of several Zanthoxylum species used to produce Sichuan pepper. Zanthoxylum simulans is a spreading shrub or small tree that grows up to 7 meters tall. Its leaves are pinnate and measure 7 to 12.5 centimeters in total length, with 7 to 11 individual leaflets. Each leaflet is 3 to 5 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide. Numerous short spines (3 to 6 millimeters long) grow on both the stems and leaf petioles, and branches feature large, several-centimeter-sized knobs. Flowers develop in slender cymes, with each flower around 4 to 5 millimeters in diameter. The plant produces 3 to 4 millimeter berries that have a rough reddish brown shell. This shell splits open to release the black seeds contained inside the berry.
