Flower ID: IMG_5503.JPG-05-17-2023 Flower name (scientific): Aesculus glabra Willdenow PY: 1809. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ES-kew-lus GLAY-brah Flower name (common): Ohio Buckeye Family name (common): Soapberry Family name (scientific): Sapindaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Etymology uncertain. A name used by Linnaeus for horse-chestnut like. For a type of oak tree. Specific epithet: From the Latin for smooth, probably reflecting the absence of hairs on the upper leaf surface. Common name origin: The tree was common in the region of Ohio during early settlement in the 18th century. The buckeye part of the name arises from the appearance of the brown colored seed supposedly resembling the eye of a deer. Flower description: Size: 0.8 to 1.0 inches (2.0 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 4 Color: yellow or green Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 240 to 720 inches (6 to 18 m) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is compound. Leaflets are sessile with margins serrate. Size: Leaflets are 7.5 to 15 cm long and 2.5 to 5 cm wide. Color: Adaxial surface is dark green, the abaxial surface is paler green. Hairy: The upper surface is hairless. The lower surface is hairless, though sometimes tiny hairs along the principal veins may be present. Other: Shape: leaf, palmately compound with 5 (typically) to 7 leaflets; leaflets elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate (IL). Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, forrests, full sun or partial shade, moist to mesic. Fruit: A light brown capsule about 4 to 5 cm in diameter with small bumps or spines on the surface. Seed: A shiny dark brown seed about 1.5 to 2.5 cm across with a white to tan colored patch about 1 cm in diameter. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes when in flower. Ethnobotany: Not utilized by tribes in Wisconsin, but employed by the Delaware for earaches and the Mohegan for rheumatism (Moerman, p. 51, 1998). Latitude: 44.794943 Longitude: -91.497813 Altitude: 262.00 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Eau Claire, Grant, Iowa, Jefferson, Langlade, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oneida, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Waukesha, Waushara) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): One homotypic synonym is listed by POWO. Heterotypic Synonym(s): na Autonym:Aesculus glabra var. glabra (The other infraspecific is Aesculus glabra var.arguta (Buckley) Robinson. This has been recorded from seven south central US states.) Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC