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Aesculus turbinata
  • Japanese Horse Chestnut

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Aesculus genus in the family Hippocastanaceae.

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Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Aesculus turbinata has 0 edible uses listed
Aesculus turbinata has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The seed is rich in saponins[1]. 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

Notes

Young leaves cooked[2]. Some caution is advised on this entry since the leaves are likely to contain toxic saponins (see notes above on toxicity).

Seed - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a flour and used as a gruel. The starch is extracted and eaten[2]. The seed is quite large, about 25 - 30mm in diameter, and is easily harvested. Unfortunately it is also rich in saponins and these need to be removed before the seed can be eaten. See also the notes above on toxicity. 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[3]. Most of the minerals etc would also have been leached out by this treatment[K].

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Saponins in the seed are a soap substitute[1]. 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]. Wood - weak, nicely grained. Used for house fittings, domestic items etc[4].

Unknown part

Soap
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Aesculus turbinata.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown outdoors or in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[4][5]. 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[5][7]. 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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Aesculus turbinata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a deep loamy well-drained soil but is not too fussy[8][4].

The dormant plant is very cold-hardy, though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. It prefers growing in a continental climate, doing best in eastern and south-eastern England[9].

Most members of this genus transplant easily, even when fairly large[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Aesculus turbinata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Aesculus turbinata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Aesculus turbinata
Genus
Aesculus
Family
Hippocastanaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1][4]
Botanic
[10][11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    20 x 12 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 ? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society (1982-00-00)
    7. ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    8. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    9. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution (1965-00-00)
    11. ? www.foj.info Flora of Japan ()

    "image:Aesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Aesculus_turbinata&oldid=74803"
    Facts about "Aesculus turbinata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyHippocastanaceae +
    Belongs to genusAesculus +
    Has common nameJapanese Horse Chestnut +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Seeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeBee +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageAesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useSoap + and Wood +
    Has mature height20 +
    Has mature width12 +
    Has primary imageAesculus turbinata 143-8713.jpg +
    Has search nameaesculus turbinata + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAesculus turbinata +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +