Common Name: Hercules Club

General Information

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is a spiny deciduous shrub growing around 3 metres tall, sometimes becoming a tree that can grow up to 17 metres tall[]. Especially in mild climates, the leaves can be persistent and remain on the plant until new leaves are produced in spring[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

South-eastern N. America - Oklahoma to North Calolina, south to Texas and Georgia

Habitat

Usually found as scattered trees near the coast in light sandy soils, often on bluffs of islands, river banks or dunes[]. Best growth is from plants in most rich soils with good drainage[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is fairly hardy, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c[].
Prefers a good deep well-drained moisture retentive soil in full sun or semi-shade[, , ].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Flowers are formed on the old wood[].

Edible Uses

The following report is for Zanthoxylum americanum, it is probably also applicable to this closely related species[].

Seed - cooked. It is used as a condiment. A pepper substitute[]. The fruit is rather small, about 4 - 5m in diameter[], but is produced in dense clusters which makes harvesting easy[]. Each fruit contains a single seed[].

Medicinal

This species is quite widely used in herbal medicine, it has the same properties as Zanthoxylum americanum, but is said to be more active[].
Prickly ash is a warming, stimulating herb that is beneficial for the circulation. It was highly regarded by the native North American Indians who used it especially to alleviate rheumatism and toothache[].
All parts of the plant, but especially the bark and roots, contain the aromatic bitter oil xanthoxylin[]. This has a number of applications in medicine, especially in the treatment of arthritic and rheumatic conditions, digestive problems and leg ulcers[, ]. The fruit has a similar medicinal action to the bark[].

The bark and roots are antirheumatic, diaphoretic, irritant, odontalgic, stimulant and a useful tonic in the treatment of debilitated conditions of the stomach and digestive organs[, , ]. They produce arterial excitement and are of use in the treatment of fevers, ague, poor circulation etc[].
Infusions of the bark were taken internally as a treatment for back pain, cramps, pulmonary problems, to treat fevers, and as a cold and cough remedy[]. The bark was boiled into a decoction that was taken to induce miscarriages. Bark infusions were taken to treat worms in adults.[]
The bark was used in different forms to alleviate toothaches:-smoking the bark relieved the pain of the toothache; the beaten or dried and powdered bark was packed in and around an aching tooth; pieces of the bark were chewed to help breakup a tooth that was to be removed[]. One report says that the bark is very efficacious, but that the sensation of the acrid bark in the mouth is fully as unpleasant as the toothache[].
Applied externally, an infusion of the bark was used as a wash to treat itching skin and to treat swollen joints. Children who were weak were washed with a decoction of the bark to make their legs and feet strong.
A poultice made from the inner bark was used to treated rheumatism and sharp pains. Placing the inner bark in the throat treated sore throats[]. A tea made from the inner bark has been used as a wash to treat itchy skin and swollen joints[, , ].
The bark of the roots was used to treat colic, rheumatism, and gonorrhoea[].

Infusions, made from the crushed roots, were used to treat fevers[].

The fruits are considered more active than the bark. They are antirheumatic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant and a useful tonic in the treatment of debilitated conditions of the stomach and digestive organs[, , ].
Infusions of the berries were used to spray on the chest and throat to treat bronchial diseases, to wash sores, and to flavour medicines[]. Rubbing the fruit against the skin, especially on the lips or in the mouth, produces a numbing effect[].

The bark and the berries were used together to treat haemorrhages, to make cough syrup, as an expectorant, and to treat tuberculosis[].

The plant was used to treat pain after childbirth[].
An ointment, made my mixing the plant with bear grease, was applied to ulcers and sores[].
The plant was an ingredient in compounds that were used for kidney trouble, to strengthen convalescing patients, and to induce vomiting[].

Other Uses

Wood - light, soft, weak and close-grained[, ]. It weighs 31lb per cubic foot[]. Too small for commercial use[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Stored seed may requires up to 3 months cold stratification, though scarification may also help[]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. Germination should take place in late spring, though it might take another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame.
Root cuttings, 3cm long, planted horizontally in pots in a greenhouse. Good percentage[].
Suckers, removed in late winter and planted into their permanent positions[].