Taxonomic study of a cultivated plant of genus Zanthoxylum l. 1753 (Rutaceae) in Iraq

Zanthoxylum L. 1753 belongs to the family Rutaceae. The plant, with its forest green color and with its distinctive fragrance attracted the attention of the study, specially it was an exotic to the environment of Iraq. Zanthoxylum is an exotic plant produced to Iraq and planted in gardens as an ever-green aromatic plant named (BUKHUR HINDI), as it is known among sellers and farmers in Iraq, because of the aromatic smell that emanated from the leaves and resembles Indian incense. The plant adapted to environmental conditions and succeeded in growing and blooming. It was examined and diagnosed for the first time in Iraq as Zanthoxylum beechyanum K. Koch. (Chinese pepper tree). Morphological characteristics and anatomical characteristics for leaves (considering that their variations are reliable and taxonomically important) were provided. The phytochemical screening showed that the leaves contain alkaloids, tannin, flavonoids, terpenes and saponins where the quantity of active constituent vary, the highest concentration was 3.939 phenols follows by flavonoids, alkaloids 0.159 and terpenoids 0.111 mg/g dry weight.