Zanthoxylum heitzii
Specifications
Family
Rutaceae
Species
Zanthoxylum heitzii (Aubrév. & Pellegr.) P.G. Waterman
Heit's prickly ash
Heit's toothache tree
Description
It is virtually undifferentiated, greenish-white in color, and straw-yellow when exposed to air. It has a fine texture, irregular grain, and a density between 0.42 and 0.68. It has medium mechanical strength and poor durability.
Plant morphology
A medium-sized tree, it can reach 35 m in height, with a straight, cylindrical trunk with a maximum diameter of 150 cm, dotted with follicular protuberances. It is generally devoid of buttresses, but often thickens at the base. The bark is gray-green, slightly fissured, and internally spotted with orange. The crown is very broad and branched, with branches bearing conical spines. The leaves are alternate, clustered at the ends of the branches, odd-pinnate, and devoid of stipules. The inflorescence is terminal, composed of numerous white pentamerous flowers. The fruit is globose, dehiscent, and glossy black.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Western Tropical Africa: Central African Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea.
Habitat and ecology
Pioneer species widespread in secondary formations, it prefers dry, well-drained soils, both in evergreen and semi-deciduous formations.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for furniture, interior design, frames.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
In some areas it suffers from high extraction in nature for wood and bark.
Conservation measures
The species is present in an ex situ collection (BGCI 2019) and in several protected areas of Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Given its potential as a plantation tree, research is warranted to identify the best propagation techniques for this species.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
LC - Least Concern - Low Risk
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2019
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2019
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
520
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
38
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
57
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
72
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
12410
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Moderatamente durabile
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
In Cameroon the bark is used against gonorrhea.