The Trees of Vermont 179 



SAPINDACEAE 



Common Horsc-cliestiuit 

 Aesculus hippocastanum L. 



Habit. — A handsome tree, with a height of 40-60 feet and a trunk 

 diameter of 1-2 feet, forming a broad, conical crown. The regularly 

 occurring branches ascend from the trunk at first, gradually bend 

 downwards as they lengthen, and end in a thick, upturning spray. 



Leaves. — Opposite, digitately compound. Leaflets usually 7, 

 rarely 5, 5-7 inches long, 13^-23^ inches broad; obovate, wedge-shaped 

 at the base ; irregularly and bluntly serrate ; thick ; rough, dark green 

 above, paler beneath, turning a rusty yellow in autumn. Petioles long, 

 grooved, swollen at the base. 



Flowers. — May- June, after the leaves ; polygamo-monoecious ; 

 large, whitish, in showy, upright, terminal thyrses 8-12 inches long; 

 pedicels jointed, 4-6-flowere(l ; calyx campanulatc, 5-lobed ; petals 5, 

 white, spotted with yellow and red, clawed ; stamens 7, thread-like, 

 longer than the petals. 



Fruit. — October ; a leathery, globular capsule about 2 inches in 

 diameter, roughened with short spines; containing 1-3 large, smooth, 

 lustrous, brown nuts, marked by large, pale scars. 



Winter-buds. — Terminal buds 1-1^ inches long, acute, brownish, 

 covered with glistening, resinous gum ; inner scales yellowish, becoming 

 1^-2 inches long in spring, remaining until the leaves are nearly half 

 grown. 



Bark. — Twigs smooth, red-brown ; trunk dark brown and broken 

 into thin plates by shallow fissures ; rich in tannin, bitter. 



Wood. — Light, soft, close-grained, weak, whitish, with thin, light 

 brown sapwood. 



Notes. — The horse-chestnut is a native of Greece, but it is exten- 

 sively cultivated throughout Europe and America, where it is favorite 

 shade tree. A double-flowered variety, Aesculus hlppocasianmn, v. 

 florc plena, which bears no fruit is a common garden form. 



