Zanthoxylum nitidum

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |name = Shiny-leaf prickly-ash |image = Zanthoxylum nitidum.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author1=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) |author2=IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |name-list-style=amp |title=''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' |article-number=e.T145825034A145825036 |year=2019 |access-date=23 February 2023}}</ref> |genus = Zanthoxylum |species = nitidum |authority = (Roxb.) DC.<ref name=APC>{{cite web|title=''Zanthoxylum nitidum''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/81568|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> |synonyms_ref = <ref name="APC" /> |synonyms = * ''Fagara nitida'' Roxb. * ''Fagara torva'' (F.Muell.) Engl. * ''Xanthoxylon torvum'' F.Muell. orth. var. * ''Xanthoxylum torvum'' F.Muell. orth. var. * ''Zanthoxylum torvum'' F.Muell. }} thumb|Main stem

'''''Zanthoxylum nitidum''''', commonly known as '''shiny-leaf prickly-ash''',<ref name=grin>{{GRIN | access-date = 23 January 2018}}</ref> is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae. It is a woody climber with prickles on the branchlets, thick, cone-shaped spines on the trunk and older branches, pinnate leaves with five to nine leaflets, and panicles or racemes of white to pale yellow, male or female flowers in leaf axils and on the ends of branchlets.

==Description== ''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' is a woody climber with curved prickles on the branchlets and thick, cone-shaped spines on the trunk and older branches. The leaves are pinnate, {{cvt|100–340|mm}} long with five to nine egg-shaped to elliptical leaflets. The leaflets are {{cvt|45–100|mm}} long and {{cvt|20–50|mm}} wide, the side leaflets sessile or on a petiolule up to {{cvt|3|mm}} long and the end leaflet on a petiolule {{cvt|7–40|mm}} long. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils or on the ends of branchlets in panicles or racemes up to {{cvt|80|mm}} long, each flower on a pedicel {{cvt|1–1.5|mm}} long. The four sepals are {{cvt|0.5–0.8|mm}} long and the four petals white or pale yellow, and {{cvt|2–3|mm}} long. The flowers are either functionally male or female, the male flowers with four stamens about {{cvt|3.5|mm}} long and four sterile, finger-like carpels. The female flowers lack stamens and have four carpels {{cvt|1.5–2|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from September to October and the fruit is a more or less spherical, red or brown follicle {{cvt|5–7|mm}} long.<ref name="FoA">{{cite book |last1=Hartley |first1=Thomas G. |editor=Annette J.G. Wilson |title=Flora of Australia (Volume 26) |date=2013 |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study |location=Canberra |page=75 |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Zanthoxylum%20nitidum|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="RFK">{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Zanthoxylum_nitidum.htm |title=''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government |access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref>

==Taxonomy== Shiny-leaf prickly-ash was first formally described in 1824 by William Roxburgh who gave it the name ''Fagara nitida'' and published the description in ''Flora Indica, or, descriptions of Indian plants''.<ref name=APNI1>{{cite web|title=''Fagara nitida''|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/648749|publisher=APNI|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> In 1824, de Candolle changed the name to ''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' in his book, ''Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis''.<ref name=APNI>{{cite web|title=''Zanthoxylum nitidum''|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/498159|publisher=APNI|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="DC.">{{cite book |last1=de Candolle |first1=Augustin P. |title=Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis |date=1824 |publisher=Sumptibus Sociorum Treuttel et Würtz,1824-73 |location=Paris |page=727 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/7150#page/734/mode/1up |access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref>

==Distribution== ''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' is found in India, South China, southeast Asia, and northern Australia. In Australia it grows in rainforest from sea level to an altitude of {{cvt|400|m}} from the Daintree River south to Rockingham Bay.<ref name="bhat">{{cite journal |last1=Bhattacharya |first1=Sanjib |last2=Zaman |first2=M. Kamaruz |last3=Ghosh |first3=Ashoke K. |date=2009 |title=Histological and Physico-chemical Evaluation of ''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' Stem Bark |journal=Ethnobotanical Leaflets |volume=13 |page=540}}</ref><ref name="FoA" />

==Uses== ''Zanxthoxylum nitidum'' is used as an insecticide and a piscicide.<ref name=bhat/>

In India and Nepal, the fruits are used as a condiment.<ref name=bhat4>Bhattacharya, Sanjib and Kamaruz Zaman. (2009). [http://www.phcogres.com/article.asp?issn=0974-8490;year=2009;volume=1;issue=3;spage=148;epage=151;aulast=Bhattacharya Essential oil composition of fruits and leaves of ''Zanthoxylum nitidum'' grown in upper Assam region of India.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225214445/http://www.phcogres.com/article.asp?issn=0974-8490;year=2009;volume=1;issue=3;spage=148;epage=151;aulast=Bhattacharya |date=2016-12-25 }} ''Pharmacognosy Research'' 1:3 148-51.</ref> However, the roots, leaves and fruit are poisonous, with as little as 40g of leaves considered to be a lethal dose.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www3.ha.org.hk/toxicplant/en/zanthoxylum_nitidum.html|title=Atlas of Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong - A Clinical Toxicology Perspective 香港有毒植物圖鑑 - 臨床毒理學透視}}</ref>

==Chemical constituents== The plant contains the chemical compounds nitidine, toddalolactone, and chelerythrine.<ref name=jing>Jing, C., Qun, X., and J. Rohrer. (2012). [http://www.dionex.com/en-us/webdocs/113634-AN1008-HPLC-Chlorides-Toddalolactone-20Jun2012-AN70089_E.pdf Determination of nitidine chloride, toddalolactone, and chelerythrine chloride by HPLC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234850/http://www.dionex.com/en-us/webdocs/113634-AN1008-HPLC-Chlorides-Toddalolactone-20Jun2012-AN70089_E.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} Thermo Fisher Scientific.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|pmid=11799776|language= zh|year=2001|last1=Zhang|first1=S|last2=Yao|first2=Y|last3=Liu|first3=C|title=Determination of nitidine in different parts of Zanthoxylum nitidum|volume=24|issue=9|pages=649–50|journal=Zhong Yao Cai}}</ref>

The essential oil, at least from some varieties, contains limonene and geraniol.<ref name=bhat4/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

nitidum Category:Plants described in 1824 Category:Taxa named by William Roxburgh Category:Flora of Queensland Category:Flora of China Category:Flora of tropical Asia