Species: Ohio Buckeye, Fetid Buckeye (Aesculus glabra Willd.)
A medium sized tree ranging from 30 to 70 ft. in
height, with a trunk seldom more than 2 ft. in
diameter. Except in the deep woods the stem divides
low to form an irregularly broad rounded crown, with
coarse drooping branches and reddish brown upcurved
twigs. The yellow-green compound leaves consist of
5 (occasionally 7) lance pointed oval leaflets
diverging palmately from a common point at the end
of a long stem or petiole. each leaflet is 3 to 6"
long with parallel veins leading from the midrib to
the finely toothed margin. The underside is a
lighter green with fine hair visible on the veins.
Showy, polygamous, irregular pale yellow flowers
are borne in terminal panicles. The disagreeable
fetid odor has led some to call this the stinking
or fetid buckeye. The fruit is a leathery capsule,
1 to 1.5" in diameter, and very prickly at least
when young. Seeds are large, dark brown or black,
shiny, starchy, and containing a bitter poisonous
substance. Bark on older trees is gray and breaking
into plates. Because Ohio buckeye is often found
in beech/sugar maple stands, it is classed as shade
tolerant. Common in the rich soil of bottomlands,
hillsides and flat uplands usually as scattered
trees mixed with other species.
Here is identifying characteristics for this species.
This image was from the book Important Forest Trees of
the Eastern United States From: Trees of North America a Golden
Field Guide by C. Frank Brookman. Copyright 1968 by Western
Publishing Company, Inc.
Here is a location map showing the natural habitat
range of this species in North America.
This image was from the book Important Forest Trees of
the Eastern United States From: Trees of North America a Golden
Field Guide by C. Frank Brookman. Copyright 1968 by Western
Publishing Company, Inc.
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Last Modified on May 20, 2002 by
George Racin
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George Racin