Aesculus glabra Willd.

Ohio Buckeye; Fetid Buckeye

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Ohio Buckeye is a native deciduous shrub in the Soapberry family (Sapindaceae). It occurs in central and northern Alabama. Ohio Buckeye grows in deciduous forest, along streams, and in prairie margins, usually in areas with calcareous soils. Ohio Buckeye is a small shrub or tree, growing from 3-40 feet in height. In Alabama it is often thicket forming. The stems are stout, erect, with large terminal buds and prominent leaf scars. Young stems are pubescent and brownish-gray in color. The bark of older stems is gray with shallow longitudinal ridges. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, glabrous, and palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets. The leaflets are elliptical in outline with finely serrate margins. The stems and leaves have a fetid odor when crushed. Flowers are produced in panicles at the ends of branches. The panicles are 4-8 inches long, with the upper flowers staminate (male) and the lower flowers perfect. Each flower has a tubular calyx with five rounded lobes, four greenish-yellow petals, and seven strongly exerted stamens. The fruit is a conspicuously prickly, leathery capsule containing 1-2 large seed. The mature seed is dark brown and shiny with a tan-colored "eye". All parts of the plant are toxic if consumed. Ohio Buckeye is sometimes cultivated, but is not readily available from most nurseries. It can be grown from seed planted soon after they mature in the fall or stored in moist sand in a refrigerator for 90-120 days. It the seed are allowed to dry out they will lose their viability. Ohio Buckeye prefers a rich, moist soil in an area with partial sun.—A. Diamond.

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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