BROADLEAVED TREES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



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CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE 



Aesculus californica (Spach.) Nutt — Horse chestnut Family 



(Hippocastanaceae) 



Being native to the upper Sonoran 

 Zone (1,000 to 2,500 feet), this tree is 

 found only occasionally within park 

 boundaries. It may be noted in the 

 vicinity of the Arch Rock Entrance 

 and at points along the western park 

 boundary to Hetch Hetchy. Motorists 

 journeying to the park will note nu- 

 nnerous specimens along the high- 

 way bordering the Merced Canyon to 

 a point in the vicinity of El Portal, 

 along the road from Fresno to a point 

 above Coarse Gold, and in places 

 along highway No. 120. 



While it often occurs as a shrub. 



ten to twenty feet tall with several 

 stems arising from a common root, 

 it also attains the stature of a small 

 tree up to twenty five feet tall and a 

 diameter of from eight to twenty in- 

 ches. Its foliage, flowers, and fruit ore 

 all distinctive and these fecrtures en- 

 able one to identify it quickly and 

 easily. 



The large, long stemmed leaves 

 which are borne opposite upon the 

 branches are palmately compound, 

 generally with five but occasionally 

 with four to seven leaflets, each from 

 three to seven inches long. When ma- 



Photo by Anderson 



California buckeye in fall with distinctive fruit 



