Pricklyash, Tickle-tongue
Zanthoxylum hirsutum Buckl.
Rutaceae (Citrus family)
Description
Pricklyash is a shrub to small tree in the Citrus family. A native, cool-season perennial, it is also commonly named tickle-tongue or toothache tree. Pricklyash often occurs as a shrub in brushy areas and in sandy soils.
Pricklyash flowers in the spring and produces a small citrus fruit that has no pulp and one large, black seed.
Two other species of Zanthoxylum commonly occur in Texas. This species is common to Central Texas and the Hill Country. It is extremely common to find this plant growing along fence lines.
The forage value of pricklyash is poor for livestock and fair to poor for deer.
Habitat
Pricklyash is found on sandy or gravelly soil of Central and West Texas.
Images
Plant Characteristics
Flower Color: White
Seed Type: Fruit/Berry
Duration: Perennial
Stem Texture: Prickly, Spiny, or Thorny
Growth Habit: Shrub (Woody)
Leaf Shape
: Simple with Pinnate or Parallel Venation
Season: Cool
Distribution
: 01 - Pineywoods, 02 - Gulf Prairies and Marshes, 03 - Post Oak Savannah, 04 - Blackland Prairies, 05 - Cross Timbers and Prairies, 06 - South Texas Plains, 07 - Edwards Plateau, 08 - Rolling Plains, 10 - Trans-Pecos
Distributions
Distribution refers to the ecological region in Texas that a plant has been found. You can also view a clickable map.
Book: Brush and Weeds of Texas Rangelands (B-6208)
Collection: Brush and Weeds
