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Horse Chestnut
Scientific Name:
Aesculus hippocastanum
Type:
Tree
Habitat:
Cultivated urban areas
Range:
Native to the Balkan Peninsula; widespread around the world
Status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
This species is
NON-NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Horse chestnut trees have broad, flat palmate style leaves. These trees produce light pink flowers in May that will develop into spiky fruit.
Fast Facts:
The fruit of horse chestnuts are called “conkers” and the seeds are very toxic. Conkers can be used to repel moths and have also been used to treat spider veins.
The flowers are not wind pollinated, but instead rely on insects and other pollinator species for reproduction.
During both World Wars, conkers were utilized due to its source of acetone, which is used to make cordite for military armaments.
Horse chestnuts are often cultivated and planted in urban areas as street trees. Here in Reno, they have been planted in Idlewild Park.
Sources:
Woodland Trust, Horse Chestnut, https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/horse-chestnut/
IUCN Red List, Horse Chestnut, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/202914/122961065
Image: Alvesgaspar, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aesculus_hippocastanum-1.jpg, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en, cropped from original.
Image: Plant Image Library, https://www.flickr.com/photos/138014579@N08/27452441492, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/, cropped from original.
Image: Solipsist, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aesculus_hippocastanum_fruit.jpg, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Haley McGuire (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)