HORSE CHESTNUT. 



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Family: ACERACEAE. [Translator's note: now HIPPOCASTANACEAE.] 

 Reproductive system: HEPTANDRY, MONOGYNY. 



The HORSE CHESTNUT. Aesculus hippocastanum. Linn, is a large tree with 

 digitate leaves consisting of six or seven digitations or oval leaflets, wider near the tip 

 and dentate on the margins. The flowers, are speckled with pink spots on a white 

 background. Arranged in a pyramid, they make a lovely sight. The calyx has four or live 

 lobes. The corolla has four or five petals and there are seven stamens. The fruit is a 

 leathery capsule bristling with small spines. 



FLOWERS: in May. 



RANGE: Asia. 



NOMENCLATURE. German, die roskastanie, rosskeste. Dutch, 

 paardenkarstengeboom. Swedish, haskastagnier. Italian, castagne cavalline. Spanish, 

 castano de Indias. Russian, kouskoi kastan. Hungarian, vad-gesztenye. 



USES. The wood is soft and has little value. Nevertheless, when used for 

 underground water conduits, it's believed to last longer than many other harder woods. 

 Battens and boards for packing cases are made out of it. 'Hie fruit, peeled and sliced, can 

 be used to make a dough to feed and even fatten poultry. But it has to be soaked for two 

 days beforehand in a wash solution made of one third slaked lime and two parts of ashes 

 and then washed for ten days in pure water. Ashes of the horse chestnut yield a large 

 quantity of potash. 



