Aesculus chinensis (scientific name? Bunge): Deciduous tree, 25 meters high, with dark brown or grayish brown bark, small branches, cylindrical, yellowish brown or grayish brown, and yellowish lenticels. Winter buds are big and have resin. Palmately compound leaves, composed of 5-7 leaflets, dark green at the top and hairless at the bottom except for tender midvein and lateral vein bases. The inflorescence is cylindrical, and the total axis of the inflorescence is puberulent. The inflorescence usually consists of 5- 10 flowers, which extend obliquely and are puberulent. Flowers heterozygous, male flowers bisexual, calyx tubular bell-shaped, petals 4, white, oblong obovate to oblong oblanceolate. The fruit is spherical or obovoid, yellow-brown, spineless and with dense spots. The seeds are often 1-2, nearly spherical and chestnut brown; The umbilical cord is white, accounting for about 1/2 of the seed volume. The flowering period is from April to May, and the fruiting period is 65438+1October.
Aesculus chinensis seeds are edible, but they are bitter when eaten directly. It needs to be boiled in alkaline water before eating, and it tastes like chestnuts. Starch can also be extracted. Fine wood can be used to make various utensils, seeds can be used as medicine, and oil can be used to make soap. Aesculus aesculus is a precious ornamental tree species for foliage, flowers and fruits, and it is one of the world-famous ornamental trees.