Zanthoxylum echinocarpum is a woody plant in the family Rutaceae and is native to South-Central and Southeast China.

Inflorescences are axillary, sometimes with terminal; 4 sepals and petals, lavender green sepals; petals 2–3 mm long; 4 stamens in male flowers; 4 carpels in female flowers, sparsely 3 or 5, growing shortly after anthesis Short awn thorns; fruit stalks are 1–3 mm long, usually without fruit stalks; the stalks are densely grown and have short and branched thorns, the thorns can grow up to 1 cm; the seed diameter is 6–8 mm.

echinocarpum The fruit petals and leaflets are glabrous, or only the back of the leaf is pubescent along the midrib.

People from Hubei use its root as herbal medicine to treat rheumatism and joint pain[2][5] Zanthoxylum echinocarpum var.

It is found in sloping forests or bushes about 600 meters above sea level, and is common in limestone mountains.