200 



FETID BUCKEYE. 



Aesculus glabra, Willdenow. 



FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION— The Soapberry family, Sapindaceae, comprises about 

 100 genera with more than 1,000 species. They are widely distributed, but commonest in 

 the tropical regions of the Old World. The flora of North America comprises 6 genera of 

 trees with about 13 species. The genus Aesculus alone has representatives in Pennsylvania. 

 It comprises 14 species, 10 of which are native to America and 2 to Pennsylvania. In addition 

 to the native species, the Horse-chestnut r Aesculus Hippocastanum) is widely introduced 

 in this State, 



FORM — Usually a email tree not over 40 ft. in height with a diameter of 12 inches, but 

 may reach a height of 90 ft. with a diameter of 24 inches. Trunk short and slender. Crown 

 broad, deep, round-topped. 



BARK — Gray, thick, evidently-furrowed, breaking up into plates. 



TWIGS — Stout, at first downy and brown, later smooth, reddish-brown to ashy-gray; ill- 

 smelling if bruised. Pith large, light green, circular in outline. 



BUDS — Opposite; terminal buds normally present but occasionally absent; about § of an 

 inch long, sharp-pointed, resinous, covered by nearly triangular keeled scales. Outer bud- 

 scales reddish-biown, finely hairy on margin, covered with a thin bloom; inner bud-scales 

 yellowish-green, enlarging in spring to 1-2 inches and persisting untit leaves are half 

 developed. 



LEAVES — Opposite, compound with 5, rarely 7, leaflets. Leaflets ovate to oval, 3-6 inches 

 long, rather long-pointed at apex, narrowed at base, irregularly and finely toothed on margin; 

 when young rather hairy, later smooth, yellowish-green above, paler beneath. Leaf-stalks 



4- 6 inches long, stout, hairy when young, enlarged at base. Foliage ill-smelling if bruised. 



LEAF-SCARS — Opposite, large, heart-shaped to • inversely triangular. Bundle-scars large, 

 in more than 3s, usually 3-9, often arranged in 3 groups. 



FLOWERS — Appear about April or May after the leaves are developed. Small, yellowish 

 or greenish, with four upright petals; borne in more or less downy terminal panicles about 



5- 6 inches long and 2-3 inches broad. Pedicels 4-6-flowered. Stamens project beyond yellow 

 corolla. 



FRUIT — Matures about October. A thick, round or pear-shaped, prickly capsule about 1 

 inch in diameter, borne on stout stalks, containing a single large, smooth, lustrous somewhat 

 flattened brown nut. The falling fruit leaves a large scar on the twigs. 



WOOD — Diffuse-porous; rays very fine, indistinct; pores very small, invisible to unaided eye, 

 evenly distributed, mostly solitary; wood elements ngt in tier-like arrangement. Wood is 

 weak, soft, whitish or sometimes pale yellow, lustrous. Weighs 2.8.31 lbs. per cubic foot. 

 Used for paper-pulp, woodenware, artificial limbs, chip hats. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Fetid Buckeye, also known as Ohio Buckeye, 

 Stinking Buckeye, and American Horse-chestnilt, can be distinguished by its leathery, dehiscent 

 fruit containing one to three shining seeds. The fruit of this species is covered with spines, 

 while that of the Sweet Buckeye is smooth. The leaves are opposite and digitately com- 

 pound with usually 5 or occasionally 7 leaflets. The buds are free from a resinous coating; 

 the terminal one is often lacking. The flowers are showy, yellowish or greenish in color and 

 arranged in large panicles borne at the ends of branches. The stamens project beyond 

 the corolla while those of the Sweet Buckeye are just as long or shorter than the corolla. It 

 is native only in the western part of the State. 



RANGE — Western Pennsylvania, south to Alabama, west to Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found only in the extreme western part of the 

 State. Reported from Allegheny, Fayette, f^awrence, Mercer, and Westmoreland counties. 



HABITAT — Usually found growing in moist soil. Prefers banks of streams, ravines, or simi- 

 lar situations. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — This tree is of no commercial importance in Pennsylvania. 



It is very limited in its distribution and usually remains small. It is occasionally planted 

 as an ornamental tree, but is less popular ths^n tbe Horse-chestnut. 



