Zanthoxylum hybridization in Brushy Creek?

While revisiting some of my old Zanthoxylum observations, I noticed how many of the plants in my greenbelt seemed to share intermediate characteristics between Z. hirsutum and Z. clava-herculis.

Intermediate characteristics include the number of leaflets, leaf apex shape, and size and shape of the teeth on the leaf margins.

For example:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111871709
This individual has leaflet counts of 9 for most of the leaves, which fits with either species. The length-to-width ratio seems to be a bit high for Z. hirsutum, bearing on an oblong leaf shape. At the same time, the teeth are large and rounded, compared to the smaller, less distinct teeth on Z. clava-herculis; those teeth are more of a Z. hirsutum trait. Leaf apices are not quite acute or pointed as Z. clava-herculis, but also rather pointed for Z. hirsutum.

Both species appear quite distinct where they are separate. But the area where I lie is right where the two species ranges overlap, and individuals appear more ambiguous. Both species of Zanthoxylum have been identified in the area. FNCT makes a reference to Porter (1976) on apparent hybridization between these species.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=120260&taxon_id=54837

Posted on 26 de março de 2023, 06:07 PM by arnanthescout arnanthescout

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