Aesculus parviflora
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Aesculus genus in the family Hippocastanaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Hippocastanaceae
- Genus
- Aesculus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 4 m
- Spread
- 4 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed is rich in saponins[7]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching the seed or flour in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - cooked[12][16][2][8]. It can be dried and ground into a powder and used as a gruel. The seed is quite large and easily harvested, though it is rarely produced in Britain[3]. Unfortunately, it is rich in bitter-tasting saponins and these need to be leached out before the seed can be eaten. See notes on toxicity above. The following notes apply to A. californica, but are probably also relevant here:- The seed needs to be leached of toxins before it becomes safe to eat - the Indians would do this by slow-roasting the nuts (which would have rendered the saponins harmless) and then cutting them into thin slices, putting them into a cloth bag and rinsing them in a stream for 2 - 5 days[15]. Most of the minerals etc would also have been leached out by this treatment[K].
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Antiperiodic, antirheumatic[11]. Used in the treatment of colic, piles, constipation and whooping cough[11].
- Product or use
- Antiperiodic
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Miscellany
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Saponins contained in the seed are used a soap substitute[7]. The saponins can be easily obtained by chopping the seed into small pieces and infusing them in hot water. This water can then be used for washing the body, clothes etc. Its main drawback is a lingering odour of horse chestnuts[K]. Plants can be used as a tall ground cover for large areas of land[14]. They are slow to establish but eventually form large spreading clumps[14]. Wood - easily worked. Used for making water troughs, packing cases, tea boxes, ornamental articles etc[11].
- Product or use
- Soap
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Southern N. America - Georgia and Alabama to Florida.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown outdoors or in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[3][20]. The seed germinates almost immediately and must be given protection from severe weather[6]. The seed has a very limited viability and must not be allowed to dry out. Stored seed should be soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing and even after this may still not be viable[20][4]. It is best to sow the seed with its 'scar' downwards[6]. If sowing the seed in a cold frame, pot up the seedlings in early spring and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Root cuttings 5 - 7 cm long in December. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot them up in March/April[19]. Grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall and then plant them out into their permanent positions, preferably in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division of suckers in the dormant season[13]. The suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a deep loamy well-drained soil but is not too fussy[1][3]. Succeeds in most situations in sun or shade[5][13]. Plants are very shade tolerant[13]. A very ornamental plant[1][3], it is hardy to about -20°c[10] though it is slow to establish[14]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. The flowers have a delicate honey perfume[17]. This species does best on the western side of Britain according to one report[5] whilst another says that it is best in a continental climate, which would suggest that it was best grown in the eastern half of the country[13]. Trees rarely fruit in Britain except after a long hot, dry summer[3][6]. Spreads freely by suckers[9]. Grows well on a lawn[3]. Most members of this genus transplant easily, even when fairly large[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
? The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985. Royal Horticultural Society 1984-00-00
? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society 1982-00-00
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region. Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi. 1982-00-00
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Small. Manual of the Southeastern Flora.
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6