Horse-Chestnut -- Aesculus hippocastanum
The horse-chestnut is a medium-sized to large tree, reaching a height of 50
to 70 feet. It has a spreading, rounded crown and massive clusters of flowers.
The horse-chestnut provides dense shade and has been widely planted in Iowa
as an ornamental.
The large leaves are palmately compound with seven individual leaflets which are broad toward the tip and somewhat narrowed near the base. The leaflets have no stalks, and at the tips they taper to an abrupt point. They are hairy when young but become smooth as they mature.
The fruit is round and covered with spines. Inside the spiny
husk is a bitter, inedible nut with a large, conspicuous scar.
The twigs are reddish brown, stout and have prominent horse-shoe-shaped
leaf scars with a series of so-called bundle-scars around the margin serving
to represent the nails.
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