Bot. Also 8 Zanthoxylon, -um. [mod.L. Xanthoxylon, -um (by Linnæus spelt Zanthoxylum), f. Gr. ξανθός yellow + ξύλον wood.] A large and widely distributed genus of trees and shrubs of the N. O. Rutaceæ (type of the suborder Xanthoxyleæ, sometimes reckoned as an order Xanthoxylaceæ), yielding various products, esp. pungent and aromatic drugs and condiments; it includes the N. American Prickly Ash or Toothache-tree (X. americanum and fraxineum), the Chinese or Japanese Pepper (X. piperitum), the Prickly or W. Indian Yellow-wood (X. Clava-Herculis), etc. Hence Xanthoxyl, a plant of this genus, or of the order or suborder of which it is the type; Xanthoxylaceous, Xanthoxyleous adjs., belonging to the Xanthoxylaceæ or Xanthoxyleæ (see above); Xanthoxylene Chem., an aromatic volatile oil obtained from the fruit of Xanthoxylon piperitum; Xanthoxylin Chem., (a) a crystalline resin or camphor obtained from an oil distilled from the seeds of X. piperitum; (b) a crystallizable bitter principle contained in the bark of X. Clava-Herculis and other species; Xanthoxyloïn, a neutral principle obtained from the bark of X. americanum.
1846. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., 473. Several *Xanthoxyls have in their habit, and especially in their foliage, a marked resemblance to the Ash.
1876. Harley, Mat. Med. (ed. 6), 679. The Xanthoxyl Family of the Rutal alliance.
1852. Th. Ross, trans. Humboldt’s Trav., I. vi. 213, note. Among *xanthoxylaceous plants, the Cuspare of Angostura, known in America under the name of Orinoco bark.
1857. Stenhouse, in Pharmaceut. Jrnl., July, 20. The pure hydrocarbon, to which I propose to give the name of *Xanthoxylene, is colourless, [etc.]. Note, The pleasant aromatic odour of Japanese pepper is due to Xanthoxylene.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 131. Several *Xanthoxyleous plants have … a marked resemblance to the Ash.
1854. Stenhouse, in Lond., Edin., & Dubl. Philos. Mag., Jan., 28. The crystals of *xanthoxyline belong to the oblique system.
1765. J. Bartram, Jrnl., 21 Dec., in Stork, Acc. E. Florida (1766), 3. Some curious shrubs … we had never seen before,… large *zanthoxylum, and purple-berried bay.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 32. A Negro woman, who had been affected for many years with several large phagædenic ulcers … was put under my care. I commenced the use of the Zanthoxylon, by bathing the sores with the decoction.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 1054. Xanthoxylon. The bark of X. caribæum … or X. Clava Herculis … used in the Antilles as a febrifuge.
