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Trees
Horse Chestnut
(Aesculus)
Summary
| Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|
| Sapindales
(Sapindales) |
Soapberry Family
(Sapindaceae) |
Horse Chestnut
(Aesculus) |
Overview
The Aesculus genre contains around 19 species. By far the most widespread in the UK is the Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum) and is easily identified when the seeds (i.e. 'conkers') are ripe in September time. The genre also comprises species known as buckeye but these varieties are planted more ornamentally in the UK.
The English name 'Horse Chestnut' comes from how the seeds resemble those of the Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) but these trees are not related and its generally advised not to eat the seed of the Horse Chestnut as they contain high concentrations of saponins.
Horse Chestnut and Red Horse Chestnut are widespread throughout t the UK. Less so on North-Westerly coastlines.
Bushcraft:
It has only a few uses. It is abundant in the UK though so I will keep looking for uses. (Drop me an email on the below form if you know of any :-) )
Click below for more information of individual species at Plants For A Future website (PFAF.org)
General Info
| Description | Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Deciduous | |
| Edible | Yes | Not ideal as contains a lot of saponins which require removing first See below. |
| Uses | Low | Can be used as a soap and eaten if processed correctly See below. |
| Burnability | Good | It tends to spit but gives a good flame and heat output - better suited to stove over open fires |
| Hardness Rating | 20 | Rough scale of hardness from 0 - 100
(Zero being the softest wood and one hundred being the hardest) |
Gallery and Identification
Features common to majority of species:
Size - Species variation - 5m to 30m (Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)) to (Yellow buckeye/Sweet buckeye (Aesculus flava))
Bark - Rough, fissured and often flakey. Grey/Brown in colour
Leaves - palmate leaves radiating out from central midrib. Each individual leafet is long and slender. Green throughout spring/summer turning red/brown as they die off.
Reproductive Parts - Flowers appear in May in conical stacks pointing upwards from the branch. White with flicks of pink, or red depening on variety. Seed is a large and red/light brown (known as conkers) and are encased in a spiney green husk when growing and fall to the ground when ripe. They ripen in September.
Distribution - Widely distributed throughout the UK. Found in both rural and urban areas.
Resources
- Soap - The leaves and seeds have a high level of saponins in them. (i.e. they produce soap-like foam when mixed with water)
Food
- Seed ('Conkers') - But takes a lot of preparation to leech saponins out (last resort)