13-19 species of woody trees and shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere, with 6 species native to North America and 7-13 species native to Eurasia; there are also several hybrids.
This specimen was found in Utah.
Physical Description
woody plants ,resinous, often sticky, buds; opposite, palmately divided leaves, often very large. Flowers have four or five petals fused into a lobed corolla tube, arranged in a panicleinflorescence.
The North American species are known as Buckeyes and the Eurasian species as Horse Chestnuts. The Buckeye blooms in summer and the Horse Chestnut in late spring. edible acorn. the term "horse" refers to their strength or inedibility,
Red Horse-chestnut Aesculus × carnea a hybrid between the Red Buckeye (A. pavia) and the Common Horse-chestnut (A. hippocastanum). The nuts contain high concentrations of a saponin-class toxin called aesculin, which is toxic to many animals including humans because it causes hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells). The saponin can be eliminated by leaching the pulverized nuts in multiple changes of boiling water, to yield a wholesome starchy porridge once important to some Native American peoples. Some animals, notably deer and squirrels, are resistant to the toxins and can eat the nuts directly. An interesting side-note is that aesculin is a natural pH indicator which, when extracted turns from colorless to fluorescent blue under UV light in an acidic pH range.
The wood is very pale whitish-brown, fairly soft and little-used. Uses include cheap furniture, boxes and firewood.
In Britain and Ireland the game of conkers remains a common childhood pastime.
In some cultures, the buckeye tree is thought to bring good luck.
horse chestnuts into a lotion to help with varicose veins.
Extractives of the seeds have been shown to be useful for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.
The name Buckeye derives from the resemblance of the seed to the brown eye of a buck (male deer), and Horse Chestnut from the external resemblance of the seed to a chestnut
Other cultivars are 'O'Neil',which produce larger (10-12 inch), brighter red flowers, 'Fort McNair' (named from where is was selected), which has dark pink flowers with yellow throats and resists leaf scorch and leaf blotch, and 'Plantierensis', which has intense rose pink flowers with yellow throats and does not set fruit, which makes it less messy.
Red Horse Chestnut
Red Horse Chestnut
Nodule
Red Horse Chestnut
Flower buds
Red Horse Chestnut Flower Buds
Chestnut Buds
Red Horse Chestnut
young Chestnut leaf shoots
Red Horse Chestnut
Red Horse Chestnut
Leaf Bracts
Red Horse Chestnut
Red Horse Chestnut - April 12, 2010
Red Horse Chestnut
Red Horse Chestnut - April 12, 2010
Red Horse Chestnut
Red Horse Chestnut - April 12, 2010
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree - August 16, 2009
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree - August 16, 2009
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree - Flower
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree - Flower - July 05, 2009
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree - Flower
Red Horse Chestnut - Buckeye Tree - Flower - July 05, 2009
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