Yellow Wood, Satin Wood, Yellow Sanders, Yellow Heart

Rutaceae

Zanthoxylum flavum grows as a large shrub to small tree up to 11 meters in height with a trunk to 50 cm in diameter. The vegetation has a fine pubescence. The oddly pinnate, compound leaves are arranged alternately to 25 cm in length. The leaflets are up to 8 cm in length, ovate to elliptic with an oblique leaf base, an obtuse leaf apex and an entire or crenulate leaf margin. The leaves have pellucid punctate dots and are aromatic when crushed. .

The dioecious actinomorphic flowers are arranged in terminal panicles. The calyx has 4 unfused green sepals. The corolla has 4 greenish-white, unfused petals. Staminate flowers have 4 stamens and a non-functional ovary. The carpellate flowers have no stamens and 1-3 unfused carpels. Each superior ovary has 1 locule and 1 seed. The fruit is a capsule at maturity producing black seeds.

Zanthoxylum flavum grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Woodland/Shrubland (coppice/scrubland) on a sand substrate.

Zanthoxylum flavum grows on all island groupings in the Bahamian Archipelago as well as Florida and the Caribbean region.

Zanthoxylum flavum is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.

Zanthoxylum flavum is used in the horticultural industry and is a highly prized for cabinetry and other wood working for its distinctive wood color.