AESCULACEAE 739 



Corolla of 4 or 5 unequal petals, which are distinguishable into blade and claw. 

 Androecium of 5-8 stamens, inserted within the disk. Filaments distinct, much 

 elongated. Anthers introrse Gynoecium of 3 united carpels. Ovary 3- 

 celled. Styles elongated, united. Stigma entire. Ovules 2 in each cavity, 

 superposed. Fruit a leathery capsule opening loculicidally by 3 valves. Seed 

 usually solitary with a thick leathery testa. Endosperm wanting. Embryo 

 hemispheric, the cotyledons very thick. [Hippocastanaceae T. & G.] 



1. AESCULUS L. 



Shrubs or trees, with terete branches. Leaves opposite : blades long-petioled, pal- 

 mately 5-9-foliolate : leaflets mostly toothed. Flowers of various colors. Sepals 5, par- 

 tially united : tube campanulate or tubular. Disk entire. Petals 4-5, narrowed into 

 claws. Stamens 5-8 : filaments filiform : anthers opening lengthwise. Ovary sessile, 3- 

 celled : style slender. Ovules horizontal or the lower one ascending. Capsule subglobose 

 or 3-lobed, smooth or echinate, often 1-2-celled by suppression. Seeds mostly solitary 

 with a shining testa. BUCKEYE. HORSECHESTNUT. 



Capsules unarmed. 



Stamens 2-3 times longer than the petals : corollas white. 1. A. parviflora. 



Stamens included or slightly exserted : corollas yellow, purple or red. 

 Calyx tubular, reddish. 



Blades of the leaflets oval or oval-ovate, very oblique at the base, densely to- 



mentose beneath : calyx 10-14 mm. long. 2. A. austrina. 



Blades of the leaflets elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate, not oblique at the base, 



glabrate beneath : calyx 15-17 mm. long. 3. A. Pavia. 



Calyx oblong-campanulate, greenish. 4. A. octandra. 



Capsule armed with prickles. 



Shrub : bJades of the leaflets incised above the middle as well as serrate. 5. A. arguta. 



Tree : blades of the leaflets serrate only. 6. A. glabra. 



1. Aesculus parviflora Walt. A shrub 1-5 m. tall, the inflorescence and the lower 

 surface of the leaflets tomentose. Leaf -blades 1-3 dm. broad : leaflets 5-7, the blades 

 elliptic-oblanceolate to obovate, 5-18 cm. long, short-acuminate, obtuse or acute at the 

 base, finely serrate, glabrate and deep green above, tomentose beneath : panicles 1-3 dm. 

 long, raceme-like : flowers about 1.5 cm. long : calyx nearly tubular, 5-7 mm. long, mi- 

 nutely glandular ; lobes oblong-ovate, obtuse : corolla white : petals long-exserted, those 

 of the upper pair linear-spatulate, the blades obtuse, narrowed into long winged sparingly 

 villous claws, those of the lateral pair longer than the others with truncate or retuse more 

 or less fiddle-shaped blades : stamens 6-7, 2-3 times longer than the petals : capsule glob- 

 ular, 2.5-3 cm. in diameter. 



In sandy soil, South Carolina to Alabama and Florida. Spring. 



2. Aesculus austrina Small. A shrub several m. tall, with pubescent foliage and in- 

 florescence. Leaf-blades 1-3 dm. broad : leaflets 3-5, the blades firm, oval or oval-ovate, 

 short-acuminate at both ends or acute at the base, very oblique at the base (except the ter- 

 minal one), glabrate and lustrous above, tomentose beneath, sharply serrate, commonly 

 long-stalked : panicles 1-1.5 dm. high, pubescent : flowers about 3 cm. long : calyx tubu- 

 lar, reddish, 10-14 mm. long, glabrous : lobes ovate, rounded : corolla red : petals minutely 

 glandular, those of the upper pair with oval blades which are about as long as the slightly 

 villous claw, those of the lateral pair with obovate blades, and claws several times longer : 

 stamens exserted : filaments sparingly villous : capsule unarmed. 



In woods, Louisiana. Spring. 



3. Aesculus Pavia L. A shrub or small tree 2-6 m. tall, with a smooth bark. Leaf- 

 blades deep green, 1-3 dm. in diameter : leaflets 5-7, the blades oblanceolate or elliptic- 

 oblanceolate, 5-15 cm. long, becoming firm, acuminate at the apex, finely serrate, acute at 

 the base, usually finely pubescent beneath: panicle 1-2 dm. long: flowers about 2.5 cm. 

 long : calyx tubular, 1.5-1.7 cm. long, striate : lobes broadly ovate, rounded : corolla red : 

 petals minutely glandular, the upper pair with oblong blades and villous claws as long as 

 the blades, those of the lateral pair with suborbicular blades and winged villous claws sev- 

 eral times longer than the blades : stamens exserted : filaments villous below : capsule un- 

 armed, 3-5 cm. in diameter. 



In woods and along streams, Virginia to Missouri, Florida and Texas. Spring. RED BUCKEYE. 



4. Aesculus octandra Marsh. A shrub, or tree reaching a height of 35 m., with a 

 maximum trunk diameter of 1 m., the bark finally broken into flat scales. Leaf -blades 

 1-3.5 dm. in diameter : leaflets mostly 5, the blades oblanceolate or elliptic, 1-2.5 dm. 



