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Aesculus turbinata - Blume.

Common Name Japanese Horse Chestnut
Family Hippocastanaceae
USDA hardiness 5-7
Known Hazards The seed is rich in saponins[169]. 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].
Habitats Mountains, especially in ravines, all over Japan[58]. In deciduous forests, especially in moist slopes along streams[275].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Aesculus turbinata Japanese Horse Chestnut


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI
Aesculus turbinata Japanese Horse Chestnut
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Pyramidal, Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Aesculus turbinata is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Ae dissimilis.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses:

Young leaves cooked[177]. 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[177]. 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[213]. Most of the minerals etc would also have been leached out by this treatment[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

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.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Soap  Wood

Saponins in the seed are 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]. Wood - weak, nicely grained. Used for house fittings, domestic items etc[11].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Prefers a deep loamy well-drained soil but is not too fussy[1, 11]. 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[200]. Most members of this genus transplant easily, even when fairly large[11]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Blooms are very showy.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown outdoors or in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[11, 80]. The seed germinates almost immediately and must be given protection from severe weather[130]. 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[80, 113]. It is best to sow the seed with its 'scar' downwards[130]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Aesculus californicaCalifornian Buckeye, California HorsechestnutTree12.0 6-10 MLMHNDM312
Aesculus chinensisChinese Horse ChestnutTree25.0 5-9 SLMHSNM313
Aesculus flavaSweet Buckeye, Yellow buckeyeTree20.0 4-8 MLMHSNM403
Aesculus glabraOhio Buckeye, Fetid BuckeyeTree20.0 4-7 MLMHSNM213
Aesculus hippocastanumHorse Chestnut, European Horsechestnut, Common HorsechestnutTree30.0 4-7 FLMHSNDM343
Aesculus indicaIndian Horse ChestnutTree30.0 6-9  LMHSNM313
Aesculus parvifloraBottlebrush buckeyeShrub4.0 4-9 SLMHFSNM213
Aesculus paviaRed BuckeyeShrub5.0 5-9 FLMHFSNM213
Aesculus sppHorse chestnutTree30.0 4-9 FLMHSNDM444
Aesculus x carneaRed Horse Chestnut, Ruby Red HorsechestnutTree25.0 5-7 SLMHSNM213

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Blume.

Botanical References

58275

Links / References

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Subject : Aesculus turbinata  
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