The horse chestnut tree tree , also know as Aesculus hippocastanum , is a beautiful species that is hardy in zones 4 to 7 . It is used as an decorative or shade tree in landscape intent . A mature tree attain heights of 50 to 75 feet . you may identify the horse chestnut by its leaves , flower , yield , twigs , bark and shape .

Chestnut Types

Castanea is the botanical name of the chestnut tree kinfolk . The chestnut trees that belong to this family admit the chinkapin chestnut tree , the Japanese chestnut , the Formosan chestnut , the European chestnut , the American chestnut tree and hybrids of these chestnut species . The horse chestnut tree is not a appendage of this chestnut tree family – it is a member of the Aesculus syndicate .

Leaf Identification

The leaf of the horse chestnut is its most identifiable feature . The leaves diversify out from the center in talk - alike fashion . There are in general seven leaves in the spoke that can be anywhere from 4 to 6 inches in length . This is known as a palm-shaped compound leaf . The edges of the leaf are serrated and are obovate ( teardrop ) in shape , with the minuscule closing of the teardrop at the centre of the spoke . Mature leaves are dark green in color .

Features

The horse chestnut ’s peak appear in the spring and they are blanched in colour . The upright cluster of flowers can be from 5 to 12 inches in duration . The fruit of the knight chestnut is round to oblong in material body and the outside is cover with prickle . The husk is thick and leathery , which protect the seeds within the fruit . There are generally one to three brown seeds within the straw . ( mention : the nuts of the knight chestnut tree are not edible . ) As the tree mature the barque becomes scaly with crude ridgeline , and the coloring of the barque is from light gray to sinister / chocolate-brown Robert Gray . The bark may also exfoliate as the tree matures , this give away the under barque , which will be orange in color . One must take into retainer the seasonal clean - up associated with the horse chestnut tree tree before planting , as it has large bunch of blossom , fruit , gravid leaves and exfoliate bark .

Benefits

The canopy or crown of the horsechestnut Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is round / oval in shape . Its lower branches lean to hang up down . The size of it and bod of this tree make it an fantabulous specimen for a large area , and perfect for a shade tree .

Medicinal Uses

The seeds of the knight chestnut are used for medicative purposes . Saponin is a chemical substance that is line up in the germ of the horse chestnut tree . Saponin is also know as aescin , and it is used to increase stemma circulation ; the treatments can be topical or inner . utmost caution must be used when taking horse chestnut extract as high does can be life-threatening . Overdose can result in diarrhea , unconsciousness , optical disturbances , and regorge .

References

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