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Project Noah Nature School
Zanthoxylum americanum
This is only the second location I've encountered Prickly Ash/Toothache Tree in Arkansas. Their spikes fascinate me every time. They are also referred to as Yellow Tree, Toothache Bark, Pepper Wood, Common Pricklyash, Prickly elder, and Angelica tree. The bark is very medicinal and is used in western medicine as well as ancient medical practices. It has numbing properties that have been used to aid with toothaches, hence the name. Here is a good article on their properties: https://urbol.com/prickly-ash-barks/
Found on a rocky slope in dense woods of hackberry, oak, loblolly pine, hickory, and others. This was the only Prickly Ash I found on this trip, but I will be keeping my eyes out for others next time.
Spotted on Sep 17, 2019
Submitted on Sep 25, 2019
3 Comments
Mathew I had given up on it and had put it on the back burner. Your spotting hopefully will get some recognition!!
Wow, they're actually not that common here according to range maps! That's awesome. And you're welcome, these are so striking and it took forever to learn their name!
Mathew I'm so glad you posted this tree! My last trip to Arkansas I found one of these and I had no idea what it was. Very nice spotting!