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The Szechuan pepper (Zanthoxylum simulans) belongs to Rutaceae (the Citrus family). It is a small evergreen tree that is native to eastern China and Taiwan. It is a closely related species of "Japanese pepper tree" in Japan, and is also called "Sensho". It is 4 to 6 m high and has thorns on its trunk and branches. Around June, it bears yellow-green inconspicuous flowers and the fruits ripen red in October. It is used in Chinese fragrance, five-spice powder (wuxiang fen). In Chinese, "野花椒" and in Taiwanese Mandarin, "刺花椒".
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