Flower ID: IMG_5663.JPG-05-25-2023 Flower name (scientific): Aesculus hippocastanum Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ES-kew-lus hip-oh-kas-TAY-num Flower name (common): Horse Chestnut 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: Meaning horse-chestnut. One suggestion is that the fruits were used as a treatment for ailments in horses. Another suggestion is that the name arises from the appearance of a horseshoe marking at the leaf axils. Common name origin: The second part of the name arises from the similarity of this species with the species Castanea sativa called the sweet chestnut. The first part of the name is attributed by the OED to Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501 &endash; c. 1577) for the fruit of this species used as a cure for horse cough and related ailments. Flower description: Size: 1.0 to 1.2 inches (2.5 to 3.0 cm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 360 to 600 inches (9 to 15 m) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is compound. Size: Leaflets are 7.5 to 20 cm long and 2.5 to 7.5 cm wide. Color: Upper surface dark green with the lower surface slightly paler. Fall color is yellow to red. Hairy: The adaxial surface is glabrous. The abaxial surface is pubescent, with age becoming glabrous. Other: Shape: leaf, palmately compound with typically 7, but may be 5 to 9 leaflets; leaflets oblanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, roadsides, urban cultivation, disturbed areas, moist to mesic, full sun to partial shade. Fruit: A green capsule turning brown at maturity, about 5 cm in diameter with prickles up to 10 mm in length on the surface. Seed: A shiny dark brown seed about 2 to 4 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 Iroquois for chest pains, and the Mohegan and Shinnecock for rheumatism (Moerman, p. 51, 1998). Latitude: 44.796600 Longitude: -91.502257 Altitude: 262.00 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Columbia, Dane, Eau Claire, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Oconto, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Winnebago) Click here for distribution map In US: (CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, VA, WA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (BC, NB, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists one homotypic synonym for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 28 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed