Difference between revisions of "Aesculus"

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Sapindaceae
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| name = ''Aesculus'' - Buckeyes and Horse-chestnuts
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|genus=Aesculus
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| image = Horse-chestnut 800.jpg
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|habit=tree
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| image_width = 300px
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|origin=N America, Eurasia
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| image_caption = ''Aesculus hippocastanum''
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|lifespan=perennial
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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|exposure=sun
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|sun_ref=Sunset National Garden Book
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| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
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|Temp Metric=°F
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| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
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|sunset_zones=vary by species
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| familia = [[Sapindaceae]]
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|image=Horse-chestnut 800.jpg
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| genus = '''''Aesculus'''''
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|image_width=200
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
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| subdivision =
 
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''[[Aesculus arguta]]'': Texas Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus californica]]'': California Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus chinensis]]'': Chinese Horse-chestnut<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus flava]]'' (''A. octandra''): Yellow Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus glabra]]'': Ohio Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus hippocastanum]]'': Common Horse-chestnut<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus indica]]'': Indian Horse-chestnut<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus neglecta]]'': Dwarf Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus parviflora]]'': Bottlebrush Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus pavia]]'': Red Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus sylvatica]]'': Painted Buckeye<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus turbinata]]'': Japanese Horse-chestnut<br/>
 
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''[[Aesculus wilsonii]]'': Wilson's Horse-chestnut
 
 
}}
 
}}
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The genus '''''Aesculus''''' ({{Pron-en|ˈɛskjʊləs}}<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> or {{IPA-en|ˈaɪskjʊləs|}}) comprises 13-19 species of woody [[tree]]s and [[shrub]]s native to the temperate [[northern hemisphere]], with 6 species native to [[North America]] and 7-13 species native to [[Eurasia]]; there are also several [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]]. Species are deciduous or evergreen. This genus has traditionally been treated in the ditypic family [[Hippocastanaceae]] along with Billia,<ref>Hardin, JW.  1957.  A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae I.  Brittonia 9:145-171.</ref> but recent phylogenetic analysis of morphological<ref>Judd, WS, RW Sanders, MJ Donoghue.  1994.  Angiosperm family pairs. Harvard Papers in Botany. 1:1-51.</ref> and molecular data<ref>MG Harrington, KJ Edwards, SA Johnson, MW Chase.  2005.  Phylogenetic inference in Sapindaceae sensu lato using plastid matK and rbcL DNA sequences.  Systematic Botany.  30:366–382</ref> has led to this family, along with the [[Aceraceae]] ([[Maple]]s and ''[[Dipteronia]]''), being included in the soapberry family ([[Sapindaceae]]).
  
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The genus '''''Aesculus''''' comprises 20–25 species of [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s and [[shrub]]s native to the temperate [[northern hemisphere]], with 7–10 species native to [[North America]] and 13–15 species native in [[Eurasia]]; there are also several natural [[hybrid]]s. They have traditionally been treated in their own usually monogeneric family [[Hippocastanaceae]], but genetic evidence has lead to this family, along with the [[Aceraceae]] ([[Maple]]s and ''[[Dipteronia]]''), being included in the soapberry family ([[Sapindaceae]]).
 
  
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The North American species are known as '''Buckeyes''' and the Eurasian species as '''Horse-chestnuts'''. Some are also called "White Chestnut" or "Red Chestnut" (as in some of the [[Bach flower remedies]]. In Britain, they are sometimes called "Conker trees" because of their link with the game of [[Conkers]] ).
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[[Linnaeus]] named the genus ''Aesculus'' after the Roman name for an edible acorn.  The Eurasian species are known as [[horse chestnuts]] while the North American species are called  [[buckeye]]s. Some are also called ''white chestnut'' or ''red chestnut'' (as in some of the [[Bach flower remedies]]). In Britain, they are sometimes called ''conker trees'' because of their link with the game of [[conkers]], played with the seeds, also called conkers. Aeschulus seeds were traditionally eaten, after leaching, by the Jomon people of Japan over about 4 millenia, until 300AD.<ref>ISBN:0 521 40112 7 _The Living Fields_, by Harlan Jack Rodney, University Press, Cambridge, Great Britain,1995 :15 Harlan cites AkazawaT & AikensCM 1986 _Prehistoric Hunter-Gathers in Japan_ Univ. Toyko Press, and cites AikensCM & HigachiT1982 _Prehistory of Japan_ NY Academic Press.</ref>
  
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== Etymology ==
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''Aesculus'' species are [[woody plant]]s from 4 to 36m tall (depending on species), and have stout shoots with resinous, often sticky, buds; opposite, palmately divided leaves, often very large (to 65&nbsp;cm across in the Japanese horse chestnut ''Aesculus turbinata''). Flowers are showy, insect-pollinated, with four or five [[petal]]s fused into a lobed [[Corolla (flower)|corolla tube]], arranged in a panicle inflorescence. Flowering starts after 80–110 [[growing degree day]]s. The fruit matures to a [[capsule (fruit)]],  2–5&nbsp;cm diameter, usually globose, containing 1-3 seeds (often erroneously called a [[nut (fruit)]]) per capsule. Capsules containing more than one seed result in seeds being flat on one side. The point of attachment of the seed in the capsule (hilum) shows as a large circular whitish scar. The capsule epidermis has "spines" (botanically: prickles) in some species, other capsules are warty or smooth; capsule splits into three sections to release the seeds.<ref>Hardin, JW. 1957. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae I. Brittonia 9:145-171</ref><ref>Hardin, JW. 1957. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae II. Brittonia 9:173-195</ref><ref>Hardin, JW. 1960. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae V, Species of the Old World. Brittonia 12:26-38</ref>
  
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The name Horse-chestnut, hyphenated here to avoid confusion with the true [[chestnut]]s (''Castanea'', [[Fagaceae]]), is also often given as "Horse Chestnut" or "Horsechestnut". One species very popular in cultivation, the Common Horse-chestnut ''Aesculus hippocastanum'' is also often known as just "Horse-chestnut". Linnaeus named the genus ''Aesculus'' after the Roman name for an edible acorn. The use of the term "horse" refers to their strength or inedibility, the word "horse" originally meant strong or powerful, and does not here refer to their fitness as fodder for horses, except in folk etymology. 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, but being inedible. The Buckeye blooms in summer and the Horse-chestnut in late spring.
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{{Inc|
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Aesculus (ancient name of some oak or mast-bearing tree). Including Pavia. Hippocastanaceae. HORSE-CHESTNUT. BUCKEYE. Trees or sometimes shrubs, cultivated for shade and for the conspicuous bloom of some species.
  
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== Description ==
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Winter-buds large with several pairs of outer scales: lvs. opposite, long-petioled, digitate, deciduous; lfts. 6-9, serrate: fls. symmetrical in terminal panicles; calyx campanulate to tubular, unequally 4-5-toothed; petals 4-5, with long claws; stamens 5-9; ovary 3-celled, with 2-ovuled cells: fr. a large 3-valved caps., usually with 1 or 2 large seeds; seeds large, brown, with a large pale hilum.—About 20 species in N. Amer., E. Asia, Himalayas and Balkan Peninsula. 
  
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''Aesculus'' are [[woody plant]]s from 4 to 35 m tall (depending on species), and have stout shoots with resinous, often sticky, buds; opposite, palmately divided leaves, often very large (to 65 cm across in the Japanese Horse-chestnut ''Aesculus turbinata''); and showy insect-pollinated [[flower]]s, with a single four- or five-lobed petal (actually four or five petals fused at the base). Flowering starts after 80–110 [[growing degree day]]s. The fruit is a rich glossy brown to blackish-brown [[Nut (fruit)|nut]] 2–5 cm diameter, usually globose with one nut in a green or brown husk, but sometimes two nuts together in one husk, in which case the nuts are flat on one side; the point of attachment of the nut in the husk shows as a large circular whitish scar. The husk has scattered soft spines in some species, spineless in others, and splits into three sections to release the nut.
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The buckeyes are deciduous trees and shrubs, with large, digitate leaves and red, white or yellow flowers in showy terminal panicles. They are cultivated for their showy flowers and handsome foliage, and some species make excellent shade trees. The large seeds are not edible.
  
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== Cultivation ==
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Some species, as AE. Hippocastanum and AE. carnea are popular shade and street trees. They leaf early and soon give a dense shade. The shrubby species are well adapted for borders of larger groups or as solitary clumps on the lawn, particularly M. parviflora, with its slender panicles of white flowers; similar in habit and effect but with bright scarlet flowers, are AE. discolor, AE. georgiana and AE. splendens. Most of the species are hardy North, but the Californian and Himalayan species are suitable only for the southern states. They grow best in loamy and moist soil.
  
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[[Image:Aesculus carnea BotGartenMuenster PurpurKastanie 6685.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Flower of the Red Horse-chestnut (''Aesculus x carnea'')]]
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Propagation is by seeds to be sown in autumn or stratified, or by side-grafting and budding on common species, and the shrubby forms also by layers; AE. parviflora is propagated also by root-cuttings.
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The most familiar member of the genus worldwide is the [[Common Horse-chestnut]] ''Aesculus hippocastanum'', native to a small area of the [[Balkans]] in southeast [[Europe]], but widely cultivated throughout the temperate world. The Yellow Buckeye ''Aesculus flava'' (syn. ''A. octandra'') is also a valuable ornamental tree with yellow flowers, but is less widely planted. Among the smaller species, the Bottlebrush Buckeye ''Aesculus parviflora'' also makes a very interesting and unusual flowering shrub. Several other members of the genus are used as ornamentals, and several horticultural hybrids have also been developed, most notably the Red Horse-chestnut ''A. x carnea'', a hybrid between ''A. hippocastanum'' and ''A. pavia''.
 
  
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They are generally fairly problem-free, though a recently discovered leaf-mining [[moth]] ''[[Cameraria ohridella]]'' is currently causing major problems in much of Europe, causing premature leaf fall which looks very unattractive. The symptoms (brown blotches on the leaves) can be confused with damage caused by the leaf fungus ''Guignardia aesculi'', which is also very common but usually less serious. Common Horse-chestnut is also used as a food plant by [[Sycamore (moth)|The Sycamore]], another species of moth.
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INDEX.
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Arguta, 8 heterophlla, 1.
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atrosanguinea, 11, 13. Hippocastanum, 1.
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austrina, 14. humilis, 13.
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Baumannii, 1. hybrida, 12.
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Briotii. 2. incisa, 1.
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Buckleyi, 8. indica, 7.
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californica, 4. intermedia,, 2.
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carnea, 2. laciniata, 1.
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chinensis, 5. lutea, 9.
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discolor, 14. Lyonii, 12.
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dissecta, 1. macrostachya, 16.
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Ellwangeri, 11. Memmingeri, 1.
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flava, 9. mollis, 14.
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flavescens, 14. nana, 13.
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flore-pleno, 1. octandra, 9, 14.
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georgiana, 10. ohioeneis, 8.
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glabra, 8. parviflora, 16.
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Henkelii, 1. Pavia, 11, 13, 14.
  
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Another disease in parts of North West Europe and North America is [[Bleeding canker]] [http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/bleedingcanker].
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pendula, 13. plantierensis, 2. pumila, 1.  
  
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==Uses==
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pyramidalis, 1. rubicunda, 2. rubra, 13.  
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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 cell]]s). The saponin can be eliminated by leaching the pulverized nuts in multiple changes of boiling water, to yield a wholesome [[starch]]y [[porridge]] once important to some [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] tribes. Some animals, notably [[deer]] and [[squirrel]]s, 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 colourless to fluorescent blue under [[UV light]] in an acidic [[pH]] range.
 
  
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Crushed buckeye nuts have also been thrown into [[lake]]s by [[poaching|poachers]], to kill fish for easy capture.
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Schirnhoferi. 1. sinensis, 3. splendens, 15.  
  
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California Buckeyes ''[[Aesculus californica]]'' are known to cause poisoning of [[honeybee]]s from toxic [[nectar]] (other locally native [[bee]] species not being affected). Other buckeye species are thought to have the same effect, but the toxins are diluted because the trees are not usually abundant enough in any one area.  
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sublaciniata. 13. turbinata, 3. umbraculifera, 1.  
  
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The wood is very pale whitish-brown, fairly soft and little-used. Uses include cheap furniture, boxes and firewood.
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variegata, 1. versicolor, 12. Whitleyi. 11.  
  
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In several European countries a new disease has been found in several species of ''Aesculus''. For more information check http://www.kastanjeziekte.wur.nl (in Dutch).  
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Wilsonii, 6. woerlitzensis, 11.
  
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In [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and [[Ireland]] the game of [[conkers]] remains a common childhood pastime.
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A. Winter-buds resinous: claws of petals not longer than calyx; stamens exserted.
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B. Lfts. sessile: petals 5; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed; stamens 5-8: fr. globular. (Hippocastanum).
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C. Lvs. glabrous beneath.
  
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In some cultures, the buckeye tree is thought to bring good luck.[http://www.ohiodnr.com/forestry/education/buckeyetrees2.htm][http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~herb/buckeye.htm]
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AE. arguta, Buckl. (AE. glabra var. arguta, Rob.). Allied to AE. glabra. Shrub, 1-5 ft.: lfts. 7-9, lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, sharply and often doubly serrate, pubescent beneath: fls. light yellowish green. Texas.— Not in cult.; the plant that is cult. under this name is AE. glabra var. Buckleyi.—AE. Bushii. Schneid. Supposed hybrid of AE. glabra and discolor. Tree, to 30 ft.: lfts. oblong-obovate, finely and bluntly serrate, pubescent below: calyx pink; petals pink and yellow, glandular and villous at the margin: fr. slightly tuberculate. Ark. Hardy at the Arnold Arboretum.—AE. glaucescens, Serg. Related to AE. octandra. Shrub, to 10 ft. Lfts. larger,; labrous and glaucescent beneath: larger: fr. smaller.—AE. humilia, Koehne, not Lodd. Related to AE. discolor and possibly variety. Low shrub: lvs. tomentose beneath: fis. red and yellow. Of unknown origin.—AE. marylandica. Booth. Supposed hybrid of AE. glabra and octandra. Of unknown origin.—AE. neglecta, Lindl. Near AE. octandra, but petals veined with purple toward the base of the blade: the lfts. are glabrous beneath. Of unknown origin.—AE. Parryi, Gray. Similar to A. californica. Lfts. small, obovate, canescent-tomentose beneath: calyx 5-lobed. Calif.
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}}
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==Cultivation==
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Pests and diseases===
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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==Species==
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The species of ''Aesculus'' include:
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* ''[[Aesculus arguta]]'': Texas buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus californica]]'': California buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus × carnea]]'': red horse chestnut
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* ''[[Aesculus chinensis]]'': Chinese horse chestnut
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* ''[[Aesculus chinensis var. wilsonii]]'': Wilson's horse chestnut
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* ''[[Aesculus flava]]'' (''A. octandra''): yellow buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus glabra]]'': Ohio buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus hippocastanum]]'': common horse chestnut
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* ''[[Aesculus indica]]'': Indian horse chestnut
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* ''[[Aesculus neglecta]]'': dwarf buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus parviflora]]'': bottlebrush buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus parryi]]''
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* ''[[Aesculus pavia]]'': red buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus pavia]] var. flavescens'': Texas yellow buckeye, yellow woolly buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus sylvatica]]'': painted buckeye
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* ''[[Aesculus turbinata]]'': Japanese horse chestnut
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* ''[[Aesculus wangii]] = [[Aesculus assamica]]
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==Cultivation==
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The most familiar member of the genus worldwide is the [[common horse chestnut]] ''Aesculus hippocastanum'', native to a small area of the [[Balkans]] in southeast [[Europe]], but widely cultivated throughout the temperate world. The yellow buckeye ''Aesculus flava'' (syn. ''A. octandra'') is also a valuable ornamental tree with yellow flowers, but is less widely planted. Among the smaller species, the bottlebrush buckeye ''Aesculus parviflora'' also makes a very interesting and unusual flowering shrub. Several other members of the genus are used as ornamentals, and several horticultural hybrids have also been developed, most notably the red horse chestnut ''[[Aesculus × carnea]]'', a hybrid between ''A. hippocastanum'' and ''A. pavia''.
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===Propagation===
  
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The [[Mexican Buckeye]] is related to ''Aesculus'', but is in a separate genus, ''Ungnadia''.
 
  
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===Uses in homeopathic medicine===
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===Pests and diseases===
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Aesculus is used in homeopathic medicine for pain in the sacroiliac region and rectal pain <ref>{{cite book
 
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| last = Morrsion, MD
 
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| first = Roger
 
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| title = Desktop guide to keynotes and comfirmatory symptoms
 
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| publisher =Hahnemann Clinic Publishing
 
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| date = 1993
 
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| location =Grass Valley, CA
 
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| ISBN =0-9635368-0-X}}
 
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</ref>.
 
  
  
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==Varieties==
  
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== References ==
 
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  {{reflist}}
 
  
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<gallery>
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==Gallery==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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Image:Aesculus carnea BotGartenMuenster PurpurKastanie 6685.jpg|Flower of the Red Horse-chestnut (''Aesculus x carnea'')
 
Image:AesculusChinensis.jpg|Chinese Horse-chestnut (''Aesculus chinensis'') young leaves in spring ...
 
Image:AesculusChinensis.jpg|Chinese Horse-chestnut (''Aesculus chinensis'') young leaves in spring ...
 
Image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|... and fully grown, in summer
 
Image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|... and fully grown, in summer
Line 94: Line 124:
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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==References and external links==
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==References==
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<references/>
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
 +
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
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{{commons}}
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==External links==
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*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?245 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Aesculus'']
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*{{wplink}}
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*Forest, F., Drouin, J. N., Charest, R., Brouillet, L., & Bruneau A. (2001). A morphological phylogenetic analysis of Aesculus L. and Billia Peyr. (Sapindaceae). ''Canad. J. Botany'' 79 (2): 154-169. [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nrc/cjb/2001/00000079/00000002/art00003 Abstract].
 
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*[http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/aesculus.html ''Aesculus glabra'' (Ohio Buckeye)] King's American Dispensatory
 
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* [http://www.homeoint.org/books3/kentmm/aesc-hip.htm ''Aesculus hippocastanum'' (aesc-hip.)] "Kent's Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica" by Dr Robert Séror
 
  
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[[Category:Sapindaceae]]
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 20:19, 20 November 2010


Horse-chestnut 800.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   tree

Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Origin: ✈ N America, Eurasia
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ sun
Sunset Zones: vary by species
Scientific Names

Sapindaceae >

Aesculus >


The genus Aesculus (pronounced /ˈɛskjʊləs/[1] or Template:IPA-en) comprises 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. Species are deciduous or evergreen. This genus has traditionally been treated in the ditypic family Hippocastanaceae along with Billia,[2] but recent phylogenetic analysis of morphological[3] and molecular data[4] has led to this family, along with the Aceraceae (Maples and Dipteronia), being included in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae).


Linnaeus named the genus Aesculus after the Roman name for an edible acorn. The Eurasian species are known as horse chestnuts while the North American species are called buckeyes. Some are also called white chestnut or red chestnut (as in some of the Bach flower remedies). In Britain, they are sometimes called conker trees because of their link with the game of conkers, played with the seeds, also called conkers. Aeschulus seeds were traditionally eaten, after leaching, by the Jomon people of Japan over about 4 millenia, until 300AD.[5]

Aesculus species are woody plants from 4 to 36m tall (depending on species), and have stout shoots with resinous, often sticky, buds; opposite, palmately divided leaves, often very large (to 65 cm across in the Japanese horse chestnut Aesculus turbinata). Flowers are showy, insect-pollinated, with four or five petals fused into a lobed corolla tube, arranged in a panicle inflorescence. Flowering starts after 80–110 growing degree days. The fruit matures to a capsule (fruit), 2–5 cm diameter, usually globose, containing 1-3 seeds (often erroneously called a nut (fruit)) per capsule. Capsules containing more than one seed result in seeds being flat on one side. The point of attachment of the seed in the capsule (hilum) shows as a large circular whitish scar. The capsule epidermis has "spines" (botanically: prickles) in some species, other capsules are warty or smooth; capsule splits into three sections to release the seeds.[6][7][8]


Read about Aesculus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Aesculus (ancient name of some oak or mast-bearing tree). Including Pavia. Hippocastanaceae. HORSE-CHESTNUT. BUCKEYE. Trees or sometimes shrubs, cultivated for shade and for the conspicuous bloom of some species.

Winter-buds large with several pairs of outer scales: lvs. opposite, long-petioled, digitate, deciduous; lfts. 6-9, serrate: fls. symmetrical in terminal panicles; calyx campanulate to tubular, unequally 4-5-toothed; petals 4-5, with long claws; stamens 5-9; ovary 3-celled, with 2-ovuled cells: fr. a large 3-valved caps., usually with 1 or 2 large seeds; seeds large, brown, with a large pale hilum.—About 20 species in N. Amer., E. Asia, Himalayas and Balkan Peninsula.

The buckeyes are deciduous trees and shrubs, with large, digitate leaves and red, white or yellow flowers in showy terminal panicles. They are cultivated for their showy flowers and handsome foliage, and some species make excellent shade trees. The large seeds are not edible.

Some species, as AE. Hippocastanum and AE. carnea are popular shade and street trees. They leaf early and soon give a dense shade. The shrubby species are well adapted for borders of larger groups or as solitary clumps on the lawn, particularly M. parviflora, with its slender panicles of white flowers; similar in habit and effect but with bright scarlet flowers, are AE. discolor, AE. georgiana and AE. splendens. Most of the species are hardy North, but the Californian and Himalayan species are suitable only for the southern states. They grow best in loamy and moist soil.

Propagation is by seeds to be sown in autumn or stratified, or by side-grafting and budding on common species, and the shrubby forms also by layers; AE. parviflora is propagated also by root-cuttings.

INDEX. Arguta, 8 heterophlla, 1. atrosanguinea, 11, 13. Hippocastanum, 1. austrina, 14. humilis, 13. Baumannii, 1. hybrida, 12. Briotii. 2. incisa, 1. Buckleyi, 8. indica, 7. californica, 4. intermedia,, 2. carnea, 2. laciniata, 1. chinensis, 5. lutea, 9. discolor, 14. Lyonii, 12. dissecta, 1. macrostachya, 16. Ellwangeri, 11. Memmingeri, 1. flava, 9. mollis, 14. flavescens, 14. nana, 13. flore-pleno, 1. octandra, 9, 14. georgiana, 10. ohioeneis, 8. glabra, 8. parviflora, 16. Henkelii, 1. Pavia, 11, 13, 14.

pendula, 13. plantierensis, 2. pumila, 1.

pyramidalis, 1. rubicunda, 2. rubra, 13.

Schirnhoferi. 1. sinensis, 3. splendens, 15.

sublaciniata. 13. turbinata, 3. umbraculifera, 1.

variegata, 1. versicolor, 12. Whitleyi. 11.

Wilsonii, 6. woerlitzensis, 11.

A. Winter-buds resinous: claws of petals not longer than calyx; stamens exserted. B. Lfts. sessile: petals 5; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed; stamens 5-8: fr. globular. (Hippocastanum). C. Lvs. glabrous beneath.

AE. arguta, Buckl. (AE. glabra var. arguta, Rob.). Allied to AE. glabra. Shrub, 1-5 ft.: lfts. 7-9, lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, sharply and often doubly serrate, pubescent beneath: fls. light yellowish green. Texas.— Not in cult.; the plant that is cult. under this name is AE. glabra var. Buckleyi.—AE. Bushii. Schneid. Supposed hybrid of AE. glabra and discolor. Tree, to 30 ft.: lfts. oblong-obovate, finely and bluntly serrate, pubescent below: calyx pink; petals pink and yellow, glandular and villous at the margin: fr. slightly tuberculate. Ark. Hardy at the Arnold Arboretum.—AE. glaucescens, Serg. Related to AE. octandra. Shrub, to 10 ft. Lfts. larger,; labrous and glaucescent beneath: larger: fr. smaller.—AE. humilia, Koehne, not Lodd. Related to AE. discolor and possibly variety. Low shrub: lvs. tomentose beneath: fis. red and yellow. Of unknown origin.—AE. marylandica. Booth. Supposed hybrid of AE. glabra and octandra. Of unknown origin.—AE. neglecta, Lindl. Near AE. octandra, but petals veined with purple toward the base of the blade: the lfts. are glabrous beneath. Of unknown origin.—AE. Parryi, Gray. Similar to A. californica. Lfts. small, obovate, canescent-tomentose beneath: calyx 5-lobed. Calif.


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Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

The species of Aesculus include:

Cultivation

The most familiar member of the genus worldwide is the common horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, native to a small area of the Balkans in southeast Europe, but widely cultivated throughout the temperate world. The yellow buckeye Aesculus flava (syn. A. octandra) is also a valuable ornamental tree with yellow flowers, but is less widely planted. Among the smaller species, the bottlebrush buckeye Aesculus parviflora also makes a very interesting and unusual flowering shrub. Several other members of the genus are used as ornamentals, and several horticultural hybrids have also been developed, most notably the red horse chestnut Aesculus × carnea, a hybrid between A. hippocastanum and A. pavia.

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Varieties

Gallery

  • Flower of the Red Horse-chestnut (Aesculus x carnea)

  • Chinese Horse-chestnut (Aesculus chinensis) young leaves in spring ...

  • ... and fully grown, in summer

  • California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) leaves

  • Aesculus hippocastanum bud opening in spring

  • Common Horse-chestnut tree in winter

  • Red Horse-chestnut (Aesculus x carnea)

  • Ohio Buckeye tree (Aesculus glabra)

References

  1. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  2. ↑ Hardin, JW. 1957. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae I. Brittonia 9:145-171.
  3. ↑ Judd, WS, RW Sanders, MJ Donoghue. 1994. Angiosperm family pairs. Harvard Papers in Botany. 1:1-51.
  4. ↑ MG Harrington, KJ Edwards, SA Johnson, MW Chase. 2005. Phylogenetic inference in Sapindaceae sensu lato using plastid matK and rbcL DNA sequences. Systematic Botany. 30:366–382
  5. ↑ ISBN:0 521 40112 7 _The Living Fields_, by Harlan Jack Rodney, University Press, Cambridge, Great Britain,1995 :15 Harlan cites AkazawaT & AikensCM 1986 _Prehistoric Hunter-Gathers in Japan_ Univ. Toyko Press, and cites AikensCM & HigachiT1982 _Prehistory of Japan_ NY Academic Press.
  6. ↑ Hardin, JW. 1957. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae I. Brittonia 9:145-171
  7. ↑ Hardin, JW. 1957. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae II. Brittonia 9:173-195
  8. ↑ Hardin, JW. 1960. A revision of the American Hippocastanaceae V, Species of the Old World. Brittonia 12:26-38

External links


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