NOT Eleutherococcus and further OT
James Waddick (Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:24:03 PST)

The importation of Sichuan pepper was prohibited a few years
ago when USDA in their wisdom decided it could harbor Citrus Canker.
Brigades of agents scoured Asian markets across the US and destroyed
every packet of spice in sight.

They are now allowed entry if they have been heat treated (I
believe at 140F for a certain period of time). So national spice
dealers (such as Penzey's) are again offering them by mail order,
they are slower to return to smaller Oriental and Indian Markets.

During the entire US prohibition they were still allowed to
be sold in Canada, but admittedly they have a lesser citrus industry.
Of course so does Missouri (my home state), but that's another story.
This meant that one in need of one of the most basic Chinese spices
could only obtain it by illegally bringing it over the border, do
without or eat in Sichuan

Incidentally Sichuan Pepper is actually Zanthoxylum simulans
or piperitum in the Family Rubiaceae with various species used in
Japan and elsewhere. See

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/page62.htm

The North American Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) is a
common understory tree, but 17 other North American species include
endangered inhabitants from Hawaii to the Caribbean.

Not a bulbous plant. best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +