Hercules' Club
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Family
Rutaceae
Genus
Zanthoxylum
Specific Epithet
clava-herculis
Arboretum Collection
LT,ST
Lifecycle
Fall Color
yellow
Size
to 12 m in height
Bloom Time
early summer
Flower
yellow to green in small terminal clusters
Bark
twigs spiny, becoming conical to pyramidal on older trunks
Leaf Size
7 to 9" long, each leaflet 3 to 4" long x 2 to 2 1/2" wide
Leaf Margin
Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Leaf Type
Compound
Description
Usually a small tree, but can reach 60 cm DBH. Unusual bark texture. chewing of leaves produces a numbing sensation in the mouth, giving rise to the common name toothache tree.
Cultural Requirements
Coastal Plain endemic, sound in coastal dunes, maritime hammocks, and inland sand hills. Adaptable to various soil conditions and light levels in central AL.
