﻿Trees of New Yorl- State 303 



SAPINDACEAE 



Aesciiliis Hippocastiinuin L. 



Horse Chestnut 



Habit — A large tree, uiuler favorable conditions sonietimes attaining a 

 height of 70-80 feet with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet. Trunk continuous 

 into the crown or more frequently dividing 6-8 feet above the ground 

 into a number of stout, ascending limbs and spreading branches which 

 form an oblong or broadly conical crown. Lower branches drooping, with 

 upturned tips. 



Leaves- — ^ Opposite, palmatelv compound, 0-15 inches in diameter, consisting 

 of 5-7 (usually 7) leaflets, borne on stout petioles which are swollen at 

 the base and measure 4-7 inches in length. Leaflets obovate, -1—8 inches 

 long, abruptly acuminate at the apex, tapering to a sessile base, irregu- 

 larly crenate-dentate, at maturity dark green, rugose, and nearly ghibrous 

 above, })aler beneath. 



Flowers — ^ Appearing in Jiuie and July after the leaves, polygamous, in 

 compact, terminal, upright thyrses 6-12 inches high, only those near the 

 base of the inflorescence fertile. Calj-x campanulate, finely pubescent, 

 usually gibbous on the lower side near the base, 5-lobed. Petals 5, white 

 spotted with yellow and purple, unequal in size, inserted by a claw at the 

 base. Stamens 6-8, longer than the petals, A\'ith slender, upcurving fila- 

 ments and small, elliptical anthers. Pistil consisting of an oblong, 

 pubescent ovary terminated by an elongated, slender, upcurving style and 

 terminal stigma. 



Fruit — A light green, coriaceous, echinulate, 3-celled ca])snle, 2-3 inches in 

 diameter, turning brown in the autumn and opening by several sutures to 

 set free the 1-3 large, lustrous, brown seeds, each marked by a conspicu- 

 ous seal'. 



Winter characters — Twigs stout, reddish brown, glabrous, or finely pubes- 

 I'cnt. marked by the large, inversely triangular leaf -scars which enclose 

 a U-shaped line of 5-7 bundle-scars. Twigs fork after flowering, an 

 axillary bud then functioning as a terminal bud. Buds l.-irge, reddish 

 brown, water-proofed with a sticky gum. Terminal flower-buds, %-l 

 inch long, much larger than the lateral buds. Bud-scales opposite, paired, 

 about 5 pairs visible in the largest buds. Mature bark thin, dull brown, 

 shallowly fissured into small, irregular pLate-like scales. 



Habitat — Prefers deep, moist soils. Extensively planted as a shade and 

 ornamental tree in this country and found as an "escape" along highways 



and about the hal)itations of man. 



Range — Origin.-illy from southern Asia but now much planted in .\merica 

 and Europe as a sliade and ornamental tree. Zones A, B, and ('. 



Uses — It.s cliief value lies in its extensive use as a. shade and ornamental 

 tree. A number of horticultural varieties including forms witii laciniate 

 leaves and double flowers are prop.agated. Wood light, soft, not .strong, 

 close-grained, pale yellowish white. Employed in Europe in c.-irving, 

 turnerv and as blind-wood in veneering. 



