AgroForestryTree Database
Zanthoxylum chalybeum
 Species identityEcology and distributionPropagation and managementFunctional usesPests and diseasesAdditional InfoBibliographyImages |
Species identity
TaxonomySynonym(s)
Common names
(Bemba) : pupwe, pupwechulu
(English) : knob wood, kundanyoka knobwood
(Luganda) : ntaleyedungu
(Lunda) : chipupa
(Nyanja) : mlunguchulu
(Shona) : mukundanyoka
(Swahili) : mjafari
Botanic description
Zanthoxylum chalybeum is a deciduous spiny shrub or tree up to 12 m, crown rounded but open. Bark pale grey; smooth dark with scales and prickles. The bole has characteristic large, conical, woody knobs with sharp prickles. The branches also bear scattered thorns with conspicuous dark scales. Leaves compound, usually 3-5 pairs of shiny leaflets plus a terminal leaflet; leaflets oblong to elliptic or lanceolate, 2.5-7 x 1-2.5 cm, with a strong citrus smell when crushed; sparsely dotted with pellucid glands; petiole 1-5 cm long, the petiole and rachis with small, hooked prickles scattered along the length. Flowers sweet scented, inconspicuous, yellowish-green, in short sprays (racemes or panicles) 5-10 cm long, produced immediately below the leaves at the base of the new branchlets. Fruit spherical, about 5 mm in diameter, reddish-brown, splitting to allow the shiny black seeds to partly protrude. Zanthoxylum means ‘yellow wood’, from the Greek ‘xanthos’ (yellow) and ‘xylon’ (wood). The specific epithet chalybeum means steel grey.
Ecology and distribution
Natural HabitatZ. chalybeum is a tree of medium to low altitudes in dry woodland or grassland, often on termite mounds.
Geographic distribution
Native : Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Biophysical limitsAltitude: Up to 1 600 m Mean annual rainfall: 750-1 500 mm
Reproductive Biology
Male and female flowers are on different trees.
Propagation and management
Propagation methodsZanthoxylum seeds exhibit strong dormancy, which appears to be imposed by the seed coat. Scarification with concentrated sulphuric acid has given fair germination results. Sowing of seeds immediately after collection is recommended. Germination is epigeal. Propagation by root cutting and suckers is practised.Tree Management
Coppicing and pollarding are recommended.
Germplasm Management
There are approximately 30 000 seeds/kg.
Functional uses
ProductsFood: When dried, the leaves can be brewed to make a kind of tea. Fodder: The leaves and fruit are eaten by goats throughout the year. The branches are sometimes lopped for feed. Fuel: Z. chalybeum is a good firewood tree; it burns easily. Timber: Timber is very hard, heavy, elastic and highly durable. It works well, although it is difficult to nail; finishes and polishes well and has been used for carving, turnery and walking sticks. The twigs are used as toothbrushes. Medicine: Bark extracts are said to cure malaria.Bibliography
Beentje HJ. 1994. Kenya trees, shrubs and lianas. National Museums of Kenya.Coates-Palgrave K. 1988. Trees of southern Africa. C.S. Struik Publishers Cape Town.
Drummond BR. 1981. Common trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. National Resources Board.
Friis I. 1992. Forests and forest trees of northeast tropical Africa. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.
ICRAF. 1992. A selection of useful trees and shrubs for Kenya: Notes on their identification, propagation and management for use by farming and pastoral communities. ICRAF.
Katende AB et al. 1995. Useful trees and shrubs for Uganda. Identification, Propagation and Management for Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA).
Mbuya LP et al. 1994. Useful trees and shrubs for Tanzania: Identification, Propagation and Management for Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA).
Storrs AEG. 1995. Know your trees: some common trees found in Zambia. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU).
Young JA, Young CG. 1992. Seeds of woody plants in North America. Dioscorides Press, Oregon, USA.