Aesculus hippocastanum L.

Species: Aesculus hippocastanum L., Genus: Aesculus, Family: Sapindaceae, Group: Angiosperms

(Aesculus hippocastanum L.)

-> Genus: Aesculus -> Family: Sapindaceae -> Group: Angiosperms

Habitus

it is a tree growing to a height of 20 – 25 m
crown is broadly ovoid to spherical, densely capped
bark is grey-brown
bork is grey-brown to blackish, cracked into round or irregular plates

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - bark

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - Liptovský Hrádok (3/2020)

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - Liptovský Hrádok (5/2012)

Buds

buds are opposite
terminal one is large, broadly ovate, lateral are smaller
covering scales are reddish brown with a darker margin
buds are resinous, distinctly shiny, sticky !

Shoots

young ones are greenish, later dark brown to greyish
leaf scar is large, heart-shaped, with traces of vascular bundles around the circumference
lenticels are hemispherical, rusty brown

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - leaf scar

Leaves (assimilation organs)

the leaves are palmately compound, seven-lobed (rarely five or nine-lobed), 15 - 25 cm long
the petiole is 15 - 25 cm long
individual leaves are elongated obovate, widest in the upper third, shortly sharply pointed at the end, double serrate along the margin

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - top side

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - single leaf

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - underside

Flowers

it is a monoecious tree, flowers are bisexual, five-petaled, white, with yellow and reddish spots
they grow at the end of this year's shoots in upright spreading panicles
it blooms in May

Fruits – seeds

the fruit is a broadly ovoid to spherical, spiny, fleshy capsule, initially green, later brown
the capsule splits with three valves, contains 1 - 3 reddish-brown seeds (chestnuts) 3 - 4 cm large

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - capsules

Extension

the original area of occurrence was not known for a long time (it spread to Europe from Turkey)
it was originally widespread on the Balkan Peninsula (Northern Greece, Albania) in mountain forests
in Slovakia, mainly in parks, gardens, but also in the open countryside (game reserves)
in Slovakia, it occurs only as a cultivated species

Ecology

it is a semi-shaded woody plant, demanding on moisture and nutrients in the soil
it is frost-resistant, sensitive to exhalations

Significance

it is a decorative park woody plant, mainly at the time of flowering (many forms are also known)
it is fruit-bearing – suitable for game reserves
it is used in the pharmaceutical industry

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - Hrádok Arboretum (5/2009)

From history

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) - Unsere Waldbäume, Sträucher und Zwergholzgewächse. Heidelberg, Carl Winter`s Universitätsbuchhandlung

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