Tnfs of X, ic Yorl,- Sfalt 303 



SAPINDACEAE 



Acsciilus Ilipiiocitstiimiin L. 



Horse Chestnut 



Habit — A liirjri' tn-c, uihUt favdiiihlc i-oiiilitioiis soim'tinies ;itt;iiiiirig a 

 lu'ii;lit of 70-80 feet with ;i trunk ili;iiiu'ter of 2-'i feet. Trunk continuous 

 into till' crown or more frequently dividiiifir 0-S feet nhove tlie jjround 

 into ;i nunil)er of stout, ascendinjj ]iuil)s and sprcadiiifr hrani-lics which 

 form an ohloiifr or broadly conical crown. Lower branches droopinif, with 

 uj)turne<l tips. 



Leaves — Opposite. ])alinately compound, G-l.! iiiclies in diameter, consisting 

 of ."-7 (usually 7) leaflets, borne on stout petioles which are swollen at 

 the base and measure 4-7 inches in lenyih. Leaflets obovate, 4—8 inches 

 Idiiy, abruj)tly acuminate at tlie apex, tapering to a se.ssile base, irregu- 

 larly crenate-dentate, at maturity dark green, rugose, and nearly glabrous 

 above, jialei- beneath. 



Flowers — Appearing in Jiuie and duly after the leaves, polygamous, in 

 compact, terminal, upright thyrses 6—12 inches high, only those near the 

 base of the inflorescence fertile. Calyx campanulate, finely pubescent, 

 usually gibbous on the lower side near the base, .l-lobed. Petals 5, white 

 si)otted with yellow and purple, unequal in size, inserted by a claw at the 

 base. Stamens 6-8, longer than the petals, A\'ith slender, upcurving fila- 

 ments and small, elliptical anthers. Pistil consisting of an oblong, 

 j)ubescent ovary tenninated by an elongated, slender, upcurving style and 

 terminal stigma. 



Fruit — A light green, coriaceous, echinulate, 3-celled capsule. '2-?> inches in 

 diameter, turning brown In the autumn and opening by several sutures to 

 set free the 1-3 large, lustrous, brown seeds, each marked by a conspicu- 

 ous scar. 



Winter characters — Twigs stout, reddish brown, glabrous, or finely pubes- 

 cent, marked by the large, inversely triangular leaf-scars which enclose 

 a U-slia])ed Line of a-7 bundle-scars. Twigs fork after flowering, an 

 axillary bud then functioning as a terminal bud. Buds large, reddish 

 lnown, water-proofed with a sticky gum. Terminal flower-buds, %-l 

 inch long, much larger than the lateral buds. Bud-scales opposite, paired, 

 about .■) i)airs visible in the largest buds. Mature bark thin, dull brown, 

 sliallowly fissui-ed into small, irregular ])late-like scales. 



Habitat — Prefers deep, moist soils. Extensively planted as a shade ami 

 ornamental tree in this country and found as an ''escape'' along highways 

 and .about the habitations of man. 



Range — Originally from southern .\s:a but now much i)laiited in America 

 and Eur()i)e as a shade ami ornamental tree. Zones A, B, and ('. 



Uses — Its chief value lies in its extensive use as a shade and ornamental 

 tree. A number of horticultural varieties including forms with laciniate 

 leaves and double flowers are propagated. Wood light, soft, not strong, 

 close-grained, pale yellowish white. Employed in Europe in carving, 

 tuinerv and as blind-wood in veneering. 



