White Prickle

Scientific name: Zanthoxylum martinicense

GPS Location: 17° ″ N, 64° ″ W

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Observations:

Phenological Markers: White Prickle (Zanthoxylum martinicense)

Scientific Name: Zanthoxylum martinicense (or Z. flavum / Z. monophyllum, depending on species)
Common Names: White Prickle, Prickly Ash, Yellow Sanders, Yellowwood
Family: Rutaceae (Citrus family)
Native Range: Caribbean, Central America, northern South America
Status in the Virgin Islands: Native; found in dry forests, coastal scrub, and rocky hillsides

🌳 Tree Characteristics

  • Height: Typically 3–10 meters (10–33 feet)
  • Trunk and Bark: Pale yellowish bark with corky spines or prickles on trunk and branches
  • Leaves: Alternate, usually pinnately compound with 3–9 small, shiny, oval leaflets; citrus-scented when crushed
  • Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow or whitish, borne in loose clusters; unisexual (separate male and female flowers)
  • Fruit: Small, rounded capsules that split open to release black seeds; aromatic and resinous

📆 Phenological Markers

Spring (March–May)

  • Leaf Flush: Fresh new leaves appear; reddish when young, turning shiny green
  • Flowering Begins: Tiny greenish-white flowers emerge in loose inflorescences, often before full leaf-out

Summer (June–August)

  • Peak Flowering: Small flowers attract bees and other insects; male and female flowers may appear on separate trees
  • Fruit Set: Fruit capsules begin to form—small, green, and later turning reddish or brown
  • Canopy: Moderate shade, often open and irregular; leaves remain relatively small and spaced

Fall (September–November)

  • Fruit Maturation: Capsules dry and split open to reveal shiny black seeds; fruit is aromatic and slightly sticky
  • Seed Dispersal: Seeds may fall near parent tree or be moved by birds or small mammals

Winter (December–February)

  • Dry Season Adaptation: May shed some or most of its leaves during extended drought
  • Dormancy: Reduced metabolic activity; bark and twigs remain greenish or yellow-brown with visible spines

👁️ Observation Tips

  • Bark and Spines: Distinctive pale bark with blunt prickles—excellent ID marker year-round
  • Leaf Aroma: Crush a leaflet to detect citrus or resinous scent
  • Fruit Clusters: Small round capsules often persist into the dry season; splitting to reveal shiny black seeds
  • Wildlife: Watch for pollinators during bloom and birds during fruiting

🌿 Ecological and Cultural Notes

  • Ecological Role:
    • Important nectar source for native bees
    • Fruits attract birds
    • Provides browse for wildlife during dry spells
  • Traditional Uses:
    • Bark and leaves used in folk remedies for toothache, digestion, and inflammation
    • Known as a “toothache tree” in some cultures for its numbing properties

⚠️ Conservation Notes

  • Resilience: Drought-tolerant and adapted to rocky, dry soils; fire-resistant bark
  • Threats: Habitat loss due to development; occasionally cut for its aromatic wood
  • Conservation Priority: Low risk but valuable in native plant restoration and ethnobotanical education
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