Returns to the GardenBed.com Gardening & Plants Homepage
  Gardenbed.com Gardening XML sitemap
Gardenbed web design spacer  
Gardening web design spacer
Species web design spacer
Gardening web design spacer
Gardening web design spacer
Species web design spacer
Plant web design spacer
 

Aesculus flava
Sweet buckeye
Deciduous tree
(1 Page of 5)

 
The Aesculus flava plant species is found in Eastern N. America - Pennsylvanica to Tennesee and west to Ohio. It is a member of the Hippocastanaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Sweet buckeye. Some home gardeners know the variety as Ae lutea. Ae octandra.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses
 
Latin Name:  Aesculus flava
Common Name:  Sweet buckeye
Family:  Hippocastanaceae
Author:  Sol.
 
Known Hazards:  The seed is rich in saponins. 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 advisible 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].
 
Mature Height:  20   Mature Width:  8
 
Habitat:  Rich river-bottoms and mountain slopes[82]. Woodland on moist rich soils[43]



General Uses:  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]. Wood - very soft, light, close grained, difficult to split. It weighs 27lb per cubic foot[235]. It is used for making artificial limbs, wooden ware, pulp etc, and is occasionally sawn into lumber[46, 62, 82, 171].

For further Aesculus flava gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

 
Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses
 

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future

 


Gardenbed web design spacer
GardenBed.com © Copyright 2008 Calvin Wills of Khor Wills & Associates Pty Ltd (ABN: 59 128 091 869).  All Rights Reserved