This Hercules-Club gets its common name from mature trunks having knobs, making it look like one of those clubs having knobs on the surface. It is also called the Southern Prickley-Ash or the Southern Toothache Tree. It grows larger than the Northern Prickley-Ash of Z. americanum with more leathery leaves. The compound leaves are 5 to 8 inches long with usually 7 to 9 leaflets, though up to 19 is possible. The small greenish-yellow flowers and fruit are borne terminally rather than auxiliary as with the more northern species. Native along the coast of Virginia into Florida to east Texas & Oklahoma.

Reply to this comment

The Hercules' Club tree is a spiny shrub or tree native to the Southeastern United States. Attaining heights to 40 feet, it has waxy, leathery dark green leaves, a rounded crown and thick corky bumps on the bark that fade and disappear as the tree ages. One common name for this tree is "Toothache Tree" due to chewing of the leaves causes numbness in the mouth, tongue and teeth. Leaves were used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans and early settlers to relieve toothaches. Numerous birds eat the fruit of this tree and it's also a host plant for the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly.

Reply to this comment