Aesculus hippocastanum L.

Spice Leaf detail Fruit In the university

Family: HIPPOCASTANACEAE

Genus: Aesculus

Catalan common name: Castanyer bord. Castanyer d´India.

Spanish common name: Castaño de indias. Castaño loco. Falso castaño.

General distribution (Phytogeography): East Mediterranean

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Garden plants. Gardens.

Description: A deciduous tree that can reach a height of over 20m, distinguishable by its largely petiolate, palmate leaves, with 5 to 7 leaflets of different sizes which are irregularly dentate and opposite. The pyramidal inflorescences of white flowers and fruits form a more or less cone-shaped, spiny capsule with soft spines.

Observations: The name Hippocastanum literally means chestnuts for horses, possibly because the fruit of this species has been used as horse fodder.