Aesculus glabra
Species of tree
Aesculus glabra, commonly known as the Ohio buckeye, is a species of deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae family. It is native to the Midwestern and lower Great Plains regions of the United States, extending southeast into the Nashville Basin.
Description[edit | edit source]
Aesculus glabra is a medium-sized deciduous tree that typically grows to a height of 15–25 meters (49–82 feet). The tree has a rounded crown and a short trunk. The bark is light gray and becomes scaly with age.
The leaves are palmately compound, with five (rarely seven) leaflets, each leaflet 8–16 cm long and 3–7 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The leaves are dark green above and paler below, turning yellow or orange in the fall.
The flowers are produced in panicles in spring, each flower 2–3 cm long, with a tubular greenish-yellow corolla. The fruit is a round capsule 4–5 cm diameter, containing one to three nut-like seeds, 2–3 cm diameter, brown with a whitish basal scar.
Distribution and habitat[edit | edit source]
Aesculus glabra is found primarily in the central United States, from Pennsylvania west to Nebraska, and south to Alabama and Texas. It grows in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, riverbanks, and floodplains.
Ecology[edit | edit source]
The seeds of Aesculus glabra are toxic to humans and livestock if ingested. However, they are consumed by some wildlife species, such as squirrels, which are able to detoxify the seeds.
The tree is a host plant for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the buckeye butterfly.
Uses[edit | edit source]
While the seeds are toxic, Native Americans historically leached the seeds to remove toxins and used them as a food source. The wood of Aesculus glabra is soft and light, making it suitable for carving and crafting small items.
Cultural significance[edit | edit source]
The Ohio buckeye is the state tree of Ohio, and its name is used for the Ohio State University sports teams, known as the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Aesculus glabra
Buckeye emblem
Aesculus glabra var. glabra
Buckeye Covers emblem
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
