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Aesculus chinensis
  • Chinese Horse Chestnut

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

248px
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 chinensis has 0 edible uses listed
Aesculus chinensis has 0 material uses listed
Aesculus chinensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The seed is rich in saponins. 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

Seed - cooked. It can be dried and ground into a powder and used as a gruel. The seed is quite large, it can be 3cm in diameter, and is easily harvested. Unfortunately it is also rich in saponins, these must be removed before it can be used as a food and this process also removes many of the minerals and vitamins, leaving behind mainly starch. 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[1].

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Saponins in the seed are used as a soap substitute[2]. 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].

Unknown part

Soap
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seed is antirheumatic and emetic[3][4]. The sweet tasting seed is said to be used in the treatment of contracted limbs that are due to palsy or rheumatism[3][4]. It is also used in the treatment of stomach aches[4].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Emetic

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[5][6]. The seed germinates almost immediately and must be given protection from severe weather[7]. 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[6][8]. It is best to sow the seed with its 'scar' downwards[7]. 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 chinensis. 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[5].

Plants grow best in eastern and south-eastern areas of England, probably needing a continental climate in order to thrive[5][9]. Although the trees are very hardy when dormant, the new growth can be damaged by late spring frosts[5].

Most members of this genus transplant easily, even when fairly large[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Aesculus chinensis. 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 chinensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Aesculus chinensis
Genus
Aesculus
Family
Hippocastanaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[3][4]
Material uses & Functions
[2]
Botanic
[5][9]
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
    slow
    Mature Size
    25 x 10 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 ? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society (1982-00-00)
    8. ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    "image:AesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Aesculus chinensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyHippocastanaceae +
    Belongs to genusAesculus +
    Has common nameChinese Horse Chestnut +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partSeeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeBee +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageAesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useSoap + and Wood +
    Has mature height25 +
    Has mature width10 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntirheumatic + and Emetic +
    Has primary imageAesculusChinensisLeaf.jpg +
    Has search nameaesculus chinensis + 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 chinensis +
    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 +