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Japanese horse chestnut

Scientific Name: Aesculus turbinata

Family: Hippocastanaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Japanese Horse Chestnut (Aesculus turbinata)

The Japanese Horse Chestnut, scientifically known as Aesculus turbinata, is a deciduous tree native to Japan, but now cultivated in other parts of the world.

Considerations for Pets

  • The seeds of the Japanese Horse Chestnut are rich in saponins, and like its European counterparts, the fruit contains toxic alkaloids.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

  • Scientific Name: Aesculus turbinata Blume
  • Family: Hippocastanaceae
  • Synonyms: Ae dissimilis (This may require verification)

Common Names

  • Japanese Horse Chestnut
  • Tochinoki (????)
  • Tochi (?(???)?)
  • Buckeye
  • Castanea Equine
  • Chestnut
  • California Buckeye
  • Horse Chestnut
  • Ohio Buckeye
  • Semen Hippocastani

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Japan.
  • Grows in temperate riparian forests.
  • Introduced to China and North America.
  • Widely planted as an ornamental tree worldwide.

Morphological Characteristics

  • A fast-growing tree, reaching up to 30 meters under ideal conditions.
  • Leaves can be remarkably large, up to 60-65 cm (approximately 2 feet) across.
  • Showy, yellowish-white, red-spotted flowers.
  • Deciduous wood with a white surface and distinctive, fine grain.

Quirky Facts

  • Traditional local food culture in Japan has utilized the Japanese horse chestnut (Tochi), and the tree is now used to illustrate the threats to ancient practices.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Horse chestnut scale became established in the London area in the 1960s.

Uses and Properties

  • The seeds contain large amounts of mixed triterpenoidal saponins called escins.
  • Studies suggest an anti-inflammatory effect from Japanese horse chestnut seeds.
  • Extracts from the stem bark have shown inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation.
  • Wood is used in woodturning and woodcarving.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden is a community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
  • Herbal Extract Company provides horse chestnut herbal information.