Aesculus chinensis seed
LATIN NAME: AESCULUS CHINENSIS
COMMON NAME: Chinese Horse Chestnut
The Chinese horse chestnut is a handsome and generous flowering tree, closely related to the famous horse chestnuts of Europe. It grows tall and stately, reaching twenty metres or more, with a broad, rounded crown of large, palm-shaped leaves divided into five to seven leaflets. In late spring the branches carry tall, upright spikes of creamy-white flowers, each spike a soft candle of blossom that glows against the foliage and attracts bees from all around, and these are followed by round, spiny green fruits holding large, glossy, brown seeds, which give the whole group of trees their name. It is a member of the soapberry family, native to China, where it grows in the moist forests of the central and western provinces, while it has long been planted in the Chinese temple courtyards and the gardens.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Chinese horse chestnut has a genuine place in both botanical and phytochemical research. Its seeds and bark, like those of its European relatives, contain compounds called saponins, including aescin, which have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and vein-supporting properties, and the horse chestnut extracts are used in the treatments for the leg discomfort and the swelling. The Chinese species has been studied alongside its relatives for its chemistry and its traditional uses in China, while the large, glossy seeds are rich in the saponins and are not for the casual eating, and the tree is best kept for the garden and the study. In horticulture, the tree is valued as a magnificent ornamental for the parks and the large gardens, studied for its growth, its cultivation and its tolerance of the urban conditions. For a tree of such grandeur, the Chinese horse chestnut has a steady and practical record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
To grow the Chinese Horse Chestnut from seed, ecologically, the Chinese horse chestnut is a generous tree. Its tall flower spikes feed the bees and the other pollinators in the late spring, its seeds feed the birds and the small mammals, and its dense canopy gives shade and shelter in the parks and the temple courtyards. Its economic value is real: the seeds and the bark have been used in the traditional ways, and the active compounds of the horse chestnuts are used in the modern treatments for the leg and the circulation complaints, while the tree is also grown as a magnificent ornamental for the parks and the large gardens, prized for its flowers and its bold foliage. To raise the Chinese horse chestnut, sow the large glossy seeds into a pot of moist, free-draining compost in autumn, cover them with a little compost, leave the pot outdoors through the cold season, and grow the little trees on in the light.
sow the large glossy seeds into a pot of moist, free-draining compost in autumn, cover the young horse chestnuts with a little compost, leave the pot outdoors through the cold season, and grow the little trees on in the light.
LATIN NAME: Aesculus chinensis
COMMON NAME: Chinese Horse Chestnut
The Chinese horse chestnut is a handsome and generous flowering tree, closely related to the famous horse chestnuts of Europe. It grows tall and stately, reaching twenty metres or more, with a broad, rounded crown of large, palm-shaped leaves divided into five to seven leaflets. In late spring the branches carry tall, upright spikes of creamy-white flowers, each spike a soft candle of blossom that glows against the foliage and attracts bees from all around. These are followed by round, spiny green fruits holding large, glossy, brown seeds, which give the whole group of trees their name. It is a tree of grandeur, shade and generous spring blossom.
The Chinese horse chestnut belongs to the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, and it is native to China, where it grows in moist forests in the central and western provinces. It is a hardy, handsome tree that thrives in deep, moist, well-drained soil and full sun, and it has long been planted in Chinese temple courtyards and gardens.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing a Chinese horse chestnut from seed is easy and very satisfying. The large, glossy brown seeds ripen in autumn and germinate readily after a period of cold, moist conditions, so sow them in pots of moist, free-draining compost in autumn, cover them with a couple of centimetres of compost, and leave them outdoors through winter. In spring, the seeds will send up strong shoots, so keep the pots moist and bring them to a bright spot. Germination is usually reliable. Grow the young trees on in pots for a couple of years before planting them out in a sheltered spot with deep, moist soil. A Chinese horse chestnut you have raised from seed will grow into a grand tree and greet you with candles of blossom every spring.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Chinese horse chestnut has a genuine place in both botanical and phytochemical research. Its seeds and bark, like those of its European relatives, contain compounds called saponins, including aescin, which have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and vein-supporting properties, and horse chestnut extracts are used in treatments for leg discomfort and swelling. The Chinese species has been studied alongside its relatives for its chemistry and its traditional medicinal uses in China. In horticulture, the tree is valued as a magnificent ornamental for parks and large gardens, studied for its growth, its cultivation and its tolerance of urban conditions. For a tree of such grandeur, the Chinese horse chestnut has a steady and practical record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Chinese horse chestnut is a generous tree. Its tall flower spikes feed bees and other pollinators in late spring, its seeds feed birds and small mammals, and its dense canopy gives shade and shelter in parks and temple courtyards.
Its economic value is real. The seeds and bark have been used in traditional medicine, and the horse chestnuts active compounds are used in modern treatments for leg and circulation complaints. The tree is also grown as a magnificent ornamental for parks and large gardens, prized for its flowers and bold foliage. For a grower, the Chinese horse chestnut is a grand, long-lived tree, and for a gardener it brings one of the finest flower displays of any large tree.
Edible Uses: 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[213]. Medicinal Uses Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Antirheumatic; Emetic. The seed is antirheumatic and emetic[178, 218]. The sweet tasting seed is said to be used in the treatment of contracted limbs that are due to palsy or rheumatism[178, 218]. It is also used in the treatment of stomach aches[218]. Other Uses Soap; Wood. Saponins in the seed are used as a soap substitute[169]. 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].