HIPPOCASTANACEAE AESCULUS 617 



ovary and two ovules in each cell ; capsule leathery ; seeds large with shining coat ; 

 cotyledons thick and fleshy. A small genus of 15 species native of America 

 and Asia. The horse chesnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum), escaped from culti- 

 vation is planted for ornamental purposes, as are others of the genus, like 

 the species described below and A. parviflora, a small shrub. By washing and 

 boiling, the starch in the seed may be utilized, and this is done in France with 

 the horse chesnut. The wood is light and brittle. The wood of the Ohio 

 buckeye is used for making violins. 



Aesculus glabra Wiild. Ohio Buckeye 



Trees with long-petioled leaves; rough and fetid bark; flowers pale yellow, 

 in large panicles, polygamo-monoecious ; calyx bell-shaped ; stamens exserted, 

 curved ; petals unequal ; fruit slightly prickly when young, smooth when old. 



Distribution. Western Pennsylvania to Central Iowa, Kansas and Indian 

 Territory. 



Aesculus Pavia L. Red Buckeye 



Shrubs with 5-7 digitate, nearly smooth, leaflets, acute or short acuminate, 

 pubescent when young, becoming smooth ; flowers in loose peduncles ; calyx 

 tubular, bright red ; petals bright red. 



Distribution. In fertile valleys from Virginia to Florida, Arkansas and 

 southern Missouri. 



Aesculus Californica Nutt. California Buckeye 



Usually a shrub from 10-15 feet high, or occasionally a tree . from 25-40 

 feet high, 3 feet in diameter ; leaflets 4-7, usually 5, smooth, oblong-lanceolate, 

 acute, petiolate ; flowers in a close panicle ; calyx 2-lobed ; petals somewhat un- 

 equal, white or pale rose, y 2 inch long; stamens 5-7; ovary densely pubescent; 

 fruit usually 1-seeded. 



Distribution. In California. 



Poisonous properties. The leaves and fruit of the above species are re- 

 garded as poisonous. Many farmers claim that this is true only at certain 

 seasons of the year. The seed produces sneezing and enters into the manu- 

 facture of snuff. The California species, according to Chesnut, causes abor- 

 tion in cows. Dr. Rusby states that in southern states the seeds are crushed 

 and thrown into water to stupefy fish just as the bark and roots of the relatives 

 are in the tropics. Fatal cases of poisoning of children are reported from Texas. 

 Suspicion has been attached to the common horse chestnut. The European 

 chestnut is said to be useful in affording food for live stock, especially sheep 

 and goats. This species contains aesculin C 15 H 16 O g -f-H O, a glucoside 

 found in the bark of many trees of the order Sapindacae ; also the gluco- 

 side aesculeiin C g H 6 O 4 ; and paviin C go H 0( ,O 20 ; the testa of the seed contains 

 quercetrin C^H^O^ ; argyraescin, an acrid, amorphous glucoside; aphrodae- 

 scin, also an acrid, amorphous principle; and saponin C 32 H 54 O ]g , a glucoside 

 which is also found in the roots of Polygala Senega, and other plants. Dr. 

 Millspaugh states that the horse chestnut causes inflammation of the mucous 

 membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, and especially of the rectum; 

 constant burning in the stomach and epigastrium, followed by nausea, retch- 

 ing, and violent vomiting with great tenderness and colic throughout the ab- 



