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Native Trees of Kentucky 



BUCKEYE FAMILY flesculaceae. 



One genus, Aesculus, comprising' two species, represents this 

 family commercially in Kentucky : 



a. Ohio Buckeye Aesculus glabra. 



b. Yellow Buckeye Aesculus octandra. 



a. OJiio Buckeye Aesculus glabra. 



This tree is 



found in Ken- 

 tucky along- the 

 banks of moun- 

 tain streams. It 

 is called Fetid 

 Buckeye from 

 the unpleasant 

 odor of its bark, 

 and is also 

 known as Amer- 

 ican Horse 

 Chestnut. 



The wood, soft, white and light, is used for interior trim- 

 mings, woodenware and paper pulp. It is also employed largely 

 in the manufacture of artificial limbs. 



The name. Buckeye, is due to the fancy of early settlers, who 

 saw in markings of the nut some resemblance to the eye of the 

 deer. The local name, Ohio, was given to the tree by the younger 

 Michaux, who reported the most abundant growth along the Ohio 

 River. 



The pale yellow flowers are perfect, growing in large erect 

 panicles at ends of branches. 



Tree tall, with slender, opposite branches and large, pointed 



terminal buds. 



Bark gray, deeply channelled, broken into plates : fetid. 

 Leaves opposite, palmately compound, consisting of five to 

 seven slender leaflets. 



Fruit three-leaved spin}' husks. 



containing 



large, shiny, 



brown, bitter nuts, each conspicuously marked with 

 a round pale scar. 



