Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.

The dried fruit follicles of Zanthoxylum bungeanum are used as a culinary spice and are particularly popular in Sichuan cuisine (Sichuan pepper). In Japan, Z. piperitum (Linnaeus) Candolle is sometimes similarly used.

Trees 3-7 m tall, deciduous. Stems and branchlets with prickles; stem prickles with a flat base. Young branchlets pubescent. Leaves 5-13-foliolate; rachis marginate; leaflet blades sessile, opposite, ovate, elliptic, or rarely lanceolate, sometimes suborbicular near leaf rachis base, 2-7 × 1-4.5 cm, both surfaces pubescent or abaxial surface flocculent along midvein, midvein adaxially impressed, margin crenate. Inflorescences axillary but terminal on lateral branchlets; rachis and pedicel pubescent or glabrous. Perianth in 2 irregular series or 1 series, with 6-8 yellowish green ± undifferentiated tepals. Male flowers: stamens 5-8; rudimentary gynoecium 2-lobed. Female flowers 2-5-carpelled. Fruit follicles purplish red, 4-5 mm in diam., pustulose glandular, apex shortly beaked or beak lacking. Seeds 3.5-4.5 mm. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Aug-Oct.

Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, SE Xinjiang, S and SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan].

Found in many habitats; below 3200 m.

Flowering from April to May; fruiting from August to October.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is occurring in Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, SE Xinjiang, S and SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang of China, Bhutan.

ITS regions of Zanthexylum bungeanum which are separate located in Gansu, Shanxi, Sichuan, Hebei provinces were sequenced. These populations of Z. bungeanum have close relationship in near geographic areas (Shen et al., 2005).

Trees 3-7 m tall, deciduous. Stems and branchlets with prickles; stem prickles with a flat base. Young branchlets pubescent. Leaves 5-13-foliolate; rachis marginate; leaflet blades sessile, opposite, ovate, elliptic, or rarely lanceolate, sometimes suborbicular near leaf rachis base, 2-7 cm long, 1-4.5 cm wide, both surfaces pubescent or abaxial surface flocculent along midvein, midvein adaxially impressed, margin crenate. Inflorescences axillary but terminal on lateral branchlets; rachis and pedicel pubescent or glabrous. Perianth in 2 irregular series or 1 series, with 6-8 yellowish green ± undifferentiated tepals. Male flowers: stamens 5-8; rudimentary gynoecium 2-lobed. Female flowers 2-5-carpelled. Fruit follicles purplish red, 4-5 mm in diameter, pustulose glandular, apex shortly beaked or beak lacking. Seeds 3.5-4.5 mm.

Growing in thickets; below 3200 m.

The dried fruit follicles of Zanthoxylum bungeanum are used as a culinary spice and are particularly popular in Sichuan cuisine (Sichuan pepper).

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a species of plant in the family Rutaceae. It is one of the sources of the spice Sichuan pepper. The plant is native to North-Central China, South-Central China, Southeast China, East Himalayas, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, Nepal, Qinghai, Tibet, Xinjiang. It was also introduced in Uzbekistan.