SAPINDACE^. 207 



Etymology. JEsculus is the ancient Latin name of some kind of Oak 

 or other mast-bearing tree. It was transferred to this genns by Linna;ns 

 (to the exclusion of the earlier and more appropriate name Hippocastanum, 

 i. e. Horsechcstnui) , on account of the resemblance of the large seeds to 

 chestnuts. 



Properties. They are handsome ornamental trees or shrubs, but their 

 timber is of no value. The bark is bitter, astringent, and it is thought feb- 

 rifugal : it has also been used for tanning. The roots contain a mucilagi- 

 nous saponifying matter ; those of JEi. Pavia have been employed in Carolina 

 as a substitute for soap. These, and the bruised branches and the seeds of 

 this and the other Buckeyes exhale an unpleasant odor, and are imbued with 

 a narcotic principle : when thrown into the water they intoxicate fish. The 

 large farinaceous seeds contain a great deal of nourishment, which is ren- 

 dered unavailable by the noxious, intensely bitter principle with which they 

 are charged. Common horsechestnuts, nevertheless, with some precau- 

 tions, are largely and advantageously used for fattening sheep in Switzer- 

 land. The Turks give them to horses affected with cough or asthma. 

 Dr. Griffith {Medical Botany, p. 214) remarks that paste made from these 

 seeds is preferable to any other, not only as possessing great tenacity, but 

 likewise because no moths or vermin will attack any thing cemented with 

 it. It is also stated that the starch, which may be so readily and copi- 

 ously prepared from them, and from those of the Buckeyes, is superior to 

 that of wheat. 



Geographical Distribution and Division. The genus comprises about 

 a dozen known species, all indigenous to the temperate parts of Asia and 

 North America. It was founded on the common Horsechestnut, a native 

 of the Caucasian region, long cultivated in the East, whence it was intro- 

 duced into Western Europe nearly three centuries ago. The time and 

 manner of its introduction are mentioned under the following genus.* A 

 nearly allied species, with prickly fruit, is found in Northern China. Tlic 

 smooth-fruited species, which have usually been distinguished as a separate 

 genus (Pavia, of Boerhaave, &c.), belong, one to the Himalayan region, one 

 to California, the others to the United States, principally along and near the 

 Alleghany Mountains. JF,. glabra, the Ohio or Fetid Buckeye, here figured, 

 has the ovary and young fruit echinate, like the Horsechestnut; but the ma- 

 ture pods are nearly or quite unarmed, and the fiowers are those of Pavia. 



PLATE 176. ^.scuLus glabra, Willd. (also ^. pallida, Willd.); — B. 

 small panicle, &c., of the natural size ; from the Cambridge Bo- 

 tanic Garden. 



1 . Diagram of a perfect flower. 



2. Vertical section of a sterile flower, enlarged, showing the abortive 



pistil. 



« FitZe page 211. 



