Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L.
= Z. hirsutum (= Z. clava-herculis spp. fruticosum)
Hercules’ club, prickly-ash, toothache tree, tickle-tongue, naranjillo
Location in Texas: E, C, SE, & S TX; uncommon in Travis Co.
Notes: Z. clava-herculis spp. fruticosum is “Texas Hercules’ club,” and present in C & S TX. That subspecies is named Z. hirsutum in many sources but has recently been accepted as synonymous (1).
Medicine
Root bark – a decoction was drunk to relieve stomachache by the Mexican Kickapoo (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352).
The decoction was also drunk to treat influenza (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352).
The root bark was dried, powdered, and applied to burns to prevent scar tissue formation (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352).
It was dried, crushed, placed in a small piece of cloth, and inserted in a tooth cavity to relieve pain (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352). It was powdered, placed in a small cloth which was wound around a stick, dipped in hot water, and applied to tooth caries to relieve the pain, with repeated treatments if necessary (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352).
A decoction was drunk instead of water to induce conception in women (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352).
Root – a decoction was drunk by birthing women to assist delivery (Latorre and Latorre 1977:352). A decoction was drunk as an expectorant, to treat bronchitis, and to relieve indigestion (Latorre and Latorre (1977:352).
Identification
The tree has a strong odor reminiscent of eucalyptus and camphor. The leaves are exceptionally glossy. The trunk, stems, and twigs have large thorns.
Reference:
(1) WFO (2023): Zanthoxylum clava-herculis subsp. fruticosum (A.Gray) Reynel. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0001238947. Accessed on: 13 Jun 2023
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