232 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES 



America. Tins family is often united with Sapindaceae to which it is 

 closely related by the presence of the extra-staminal disk, a feature in 

 common shared by only 1 other family, namely Melianthaceae, and several 

 species of Acer. 



jESCULUS 



Trees or shrubs. Winter buds large, with large bud scales. Twigs 

 with conspicuous triangular scars. Leaves deciduous, opposite, digi- 

 tately compound, with long petioles, without stipules. Leaflets, 5-9, 

 serrate, palmately veined. Flowers in large terminal panicles or racemes, 

 polygamous and symmetrical ; the perfect flowers usually near the base 

 of the inflorescence; calyx campanulate, unequally 4-5 toothed; petals 

 4-5, with long claws, alternate with the calyx; stamens 5-9, usually 7; 

 ovary 3 celled, ovules 2 in each cell; style slender, elongated. Fruit a 

 large leathery capsule, 3 celled, 3 seeded (usually 1 or 2), and 3 valved. 

 Seeds large, coriaceous, brown and shining, with a large scar at the base, 

 exalbuminous. 



About 20 species in E. Asia, N. America and the Himalayas. 



The genus is distinguished by large winter buds covered by several 

 pairs of outer scales, palmately compound leaves, and white, red or yellow 

 flowers in conspicuous terminal panicles, and large, shiny chestnut-like 

 seeds. Several species are planted as ornamental and shade trees. The 

 large seeds of A^sculus are rich in starch and may be used as food for 

 sheep and swine. The roots contain saponin suitable for cleansing pur- 

 poses. The wood is of little value, being soft and not durable, although 

 sometimes employed for the manufacture of small articles. It has been 

 found useful for paper making. 



^Esculus chinensis Bunge. 



Tree 20 m. tall. Leaflets 5-7, large, 10-18 cm. long, obovate-oblong, 

 acuminate, rounded to cuneate at the base, finely serrate, short petioluled, 

 shining green above, glabrous below, except along the veins which are 

 more or less hairy ; petiolules pubescent. Flowers in elongated, cylindrical, 

 upright panicles, 25 cm. long. Flowers small, usually less than 12 mm. 

 long, unequally 5 lobed, pubescent; petals 4, 10 mm. long. Fruit 

 subglobose, depressed at the apex, 3-4 cm. in diameter, shell hard and 

 warty, 1 celled and 3 valved. Seeds 2-2.5 cm. in diameter, chestnut- 

 brown; basal scar or hilum large, extending over 1/2 of the base. 



