Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the United States. In the North-Central U.S.A., it can be found growing in Oklahoma. Moving toward the South-Central U.S.A., its presence extends into Texas. The species is also widely distributed throughout the Southeastern U.S.A., specifically within Alabama and Arkansas. Finally, its geographical range reaches further into the Southeastern U.S.A. via the state of Florida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Zanthoxylum clavatum-herculis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, meaning the individual plants persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing their life cycle in a single year. As a perennial species, it maintains a long-term presence in its natural habitat, often developing woody structures that allow it to endure seasonal shifts and environmental stressors over many years. This prolonged developmental strategy enables the plant to establish a robust root system and accumulate the necessary energy reserves to support repeated reproductive cycles throughout its lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Zanthoxylum clava-herculis is characterized by a woody growth habit that manifests in diverse structural forms, ranging from a shrub to a substantial tree. This plant is notably self-supporting in its climbing habit, rather than functioning as an obligatory or facultative liana or vine. Reaching significant proportions, the plant exhibits an average height of approximately 9.14 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

9.14 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xanthoxylum clavav-herculis is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework primarily driven by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the plant captures atmospheric carbon dioxide through stomatal uptake, where it is first fixed into a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, via the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. This C3 mechanism dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and carbon assimilation rates, making its metabolic activity highly dependent on ambient temperature and moisture availability to optimize gas exchange while minimizing photorespiration. Furthermore, its physiological processes include complex secondary metabolic pathways that facilitate the synthesis of bioactive alkaloids and terpenoids, which are integrated into its systemic defense mechanisms.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xanthoxylum clavaherculeis is characterized by a specific seed dispersal strategy and variable seed dimensions. The plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the movement of its seeds to new locations. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a notable range in mass, with the smallest recorded seed weighing approximately 0.00254 g and the largest reaching a maximum of 0.0285 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is 0.02113 g, reflecting the specific biological investment allocated to its reproductive output.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

0.0285 g

Seed mass mean:

0.02113 g

Seed mass min:

0.00254 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Laurifoline, (-)-Asarinin, (-)-sesamin, Asarinin, CINNAMAMIDE.

(+)-Laurifoline

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Asarinin

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-sesamin

1. Dr. Duke

Asarinin

1. Dr. Duke

CINNAMAMIDE

1. Dr. Duke

Candicine

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Herclavine

1. Dr. Duke

Herculin

1. Dr. Duke

Laurifoline

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis has 168 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include (+)-Inotropic, 12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Adrenolytic.

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke