What Is the Difference Between Horse Chestnut & a Chestnut Tree?
- Leaves. The leaves of the horse chestnut are palmately compound--with five leaflets radiating from the center of the stalk--and have fine-toothed margins.
- Buds. The horse chestnut is covered with thick buds during the winter months. ...
- Twigs. The horse chestnut twigs form scars in the shape of horseshoes when the tree loses a leaf. ...
- Burs. ...
- Fruit. ...
Full Answer
Can you eat horse chestnut?
Can You Eat Horse Chestnuts? Horse chestnuts (in the picture) are toxic and inedible. Horse chestnuts are not edible because they contain toxic compounds that can cause stomach upset if eaten in large quantities. Eating horse chestnuts is unlikely to be fatal, but the results aren’t pleasant. The fleshy brown seeds are also toxic to animals ...
Can you eat horse chestnuts?
Horse chestnuts shouldn’t be eaten. Raw horse chestnuts contain a poison called esculin. Esculin is especially abundant when the horse chestnut seed is young. Ingesting this poison can make a person violently ill, and it can be fatal. When prepared correctly, horse chestnut seeds can be used medicinally. They are used to treat fever, diarrhea ...
What chestnuts are edible?
There are four different varieties of edible chestnuts: American, European, Chinese and Japanese. The chestnut tree is related to the beech and the oak tree. Chestnuts used to be the main starch staple in Europe until the potato was introduced. When edible chestnuts are boiled the nuts have a similar texture to potatoes, with a sweet nutty flavor.
Is horse chestnut a tree nut?
Horse chestnut is a tree native to parts of southeastern Europe. Its fruits contain seeds that resemble sweet chestnuts but have a bitter taste. Historically, horse chestnut seed extract was used for joint pain, bladder and gastrointestinal problems, fever, leg cramps, and other conditions.
Is chestnut the same as horse chestnut?
Edible chestnuts belong to the genus Castanea and are enclosed in sharp, spine-covered burs. The toxic, inedible horse chestnuts have a fleshy, bumpy husk with a wart-covered appearance. Both horse chestnut and edible chestnuts produce a brown nut, but edible chestnuts always have a tassel or point on the nut.
Can you eat chestnuts from a horse chestnut tree?
While cultivated or wild sweet chestnuts are edible, horse chestnuts are toxic, and can cause digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or throat irritation.
What happens if you eat horse chestnuts?
Raw horse chestnut seed, bark, flower, and leaf contain esculin and are unsafe to use. Signs of esculin poisoning include stomach upset, muscle twitching, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and paralysis. Seek immediate medical attention if you've accidentally consumed raw horse chestnut.
Are sweet chestnut and horse chestnut related?
Not to be confused with: Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), which has similar nuts, but those of the sweet chestnut are smaller and found in clusters.
Can humans eat horse chestnuts?
Uses for Horse Chestnuts While you cannot safely eat horse chestnuts or feed them to livestock, they have medicinal uses. Extract from the poisonous conkers contains aescin. This is used to treat hemorrhoids and chronic venous insufficiency. In addition, over history conkers have been used to keep spiders away.
Why are horse chestnuts called horse chestnuts?
Etymology. The common name horse chestnut originates from the similarity of the leaves and fruits to sweet chestnuts, Castanea sativa (a tree in a different family, the Fagaceae), together with the alleged observation that the fruit or seeds could help panting or coughing horses.
Is a Buckeye a horse chestnut?
Buckeyes and horse chestnuts belong to the same tree family and are unrelated to true chestnuts. They bear similarities in fruit, but horse chestnuts carry larger seeds. The nuts of both buckeyes and horse chestnuts appear shiny and attractive, yet both are highly poisonous and must never be eaten.
What are conkers called in America?
England: the game is known as 'conkers' in England. Puerto Rico: the game of conkers is known as 'gullets' in Puerto Rico. USA: in America the game is known both as 'conkers' but also as 'buckeyes'
Can you eat all types of chestnuts?
Chestnuts can be eaten in a variety of forms – fresh, dried, canned, jarred, pureed, even ground into flour. But finding them is often half the battle for one looking to enjoy them. Fresh chestnuts are generally only available in the fall.
How many varieties of chestnuts are there?
There are 4 major species – American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), European Chestnut (C. sativa), Chinese Chestnut (C. mollissima) and Japanese Chestnut (C. crenata) and 9 less important species of the genus Castanea in the world.
Why is a chestnut called a chestnut?
The name "chestnut" is derived from an earlier English term "chesten nut", which descends from the Old French word chastain (Modern French, châtaigne). The French word in turn derives from Latin Castanea (also the scientific name of the tree), which traces to the Ancient Greek word κάστανον (sweet chestnut).
How can you tell a horse chestnut tree?
1:362:50Identifying Horse Chestnut - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe other classic thing of course with horse chestnut. This is the source of conkers. So in theMoreThe other classic thing of course with horse chestnut. This is the source of conkers. So in the autumn.
Why are horse chestnuts poisonous?
Because of the pale spot on the nut, they are sometimes called "buckeyes." Horse chestnuts contain a toxin called saponin aesculin that makes all parts of these trees poisonous. This toxin isn't absorbed very well, so it tends to produce mild to moderate symptoms when people eat horse chestnuts.
Can you eat sweet chestnuts straight from the tree?
Notes. The chestnuts are easiest to peel when warm, so do serve straight away. I like to serve ours in paper bags with a bowl for the skins - everyone has a go at peeling their own, it's all part of the fun!
What falls from horse chestnut trees?
The tree's large, upright clusters of pink or white flowers bloom in late spring and can be five to 12 inches tall. 1 They are followed up by spiny green seedpods in the fall. Along with their beautiful flowers and seedpods, the horse chestnut tree also exhibits interesting bark and twisted limbs.
Are raw chestnuts poisonous?
American chestnuts have high concentrations of tannic acid and will make you ill if you eat them raw. European chestnuts may or may not be eaten raw, depending on the chestnut. Asian chestnuts are generally approved to eat raw, but there is no guarantee that eating a raw chestnut will not make you ill.
How many leaves does a horse chestnut have?
The leaves of the horse chestnut are palmately compound--with five leaflets radiating from the center of the stalk--and have fine-toothed margins. They vary in size, from 4 to 10 inches long. Chestnut leaves are single--only one per stem--and are narrow and elliptic in shape. They are 5 to 8 inches long. Chestnut leaves have sharply toothed margins.
What is the difference between a chestnut tree and a horse chestnut tree?
Although they both bear the name "chestnut ," they are not relatedl. The horse chestnut is cultivated mainly for its ornamental value; its fruit is inedible. The fruit of the chestnut tree, however, may be eaten.
What is the burs on a chestnut tree?
A chestnut tree has "burs" (which contain and protect the fruit) the size of a tennis ball.
When do horse chestnuts have buds?
The horse chestnut is covered with thick buds during the winter months.
Do horse chestnuts have scars?
The small branches are covered with these marks. The twigs of the chestnut, however, do not bear these scars, and are smooth. The horse chestnut is covered with thick buds during the winter months.
Is a chestnut tree edible?
The chestnut tree produces a highly edible nut. It is used as an ingredient in stuffing for turkey or pheasant, or simply roasted. A chestnut tree has "burs" (which contain and protect the fruit) the size of a tennis ball. The horse chestnut produces a shiny brown nut which is inedible. 00:00.
Is a chestnut a horse chestnut?
The horse chestnut and the chestnut tree are two entirely different trees.
How tall is a Buckeye?
The Ohio buckeye grows to 50 feet tall and produces unscented pale-yellow flower clusters in early June. The American chestnut tree reaches about 40 feet tall and blooms in June with 8-inch-long catkins of fragrant, creamy-white flowers. The tree with the common name “horse chestnut” isn’t a chestnut tree at all.
How tall is a horse chestnut tree?
Habit. The horse chestnut tree is the largest of the three, reaching more than 100 feet tall in a dome shape. In spring, it produces fat, fragrant, foot-long panicles of white flowers with red dots at their base. The Ohio buckeye grows to 50 feet tall and produces unscented pale-yellow flower clusters in early June.
Why are chestnut trees extinct?
The native American chestnut tree, which is nearly extinct in the United States because of a fungal disease, is Castanea dentata, a member of the Fagaceae, or beech, family. A third tree, the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), also produces nuts that are sometimes called horse chestnuts.
What is the best soil for horse chestnuts?
Plant horse chestnut in full or part sun in well-drained soil with regular moisture. It isn’t fussy about soil type and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. American chestnut, which thrives in USDA zones 5 through 8, prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil . Ohio buckeye grows in USDA zones 3 ...
What is the color of the leaves on a horse chestnut?
The American chestnut has shiny, yellow-green leaves with curving teeth along the edges that turn yellow in the fall. The seven leaflets of the horse chestnut are larger and coarser and emerge a light green, turning dark green as they mature. The finely toothed leaves of the Ohio buckeye are narrow and medium green.
Where did the buckeye tree get its name?
The buckeye got its name from Native Americans, who decided it resembled the eye of a deer. Since colonial times, buckeyes and horse chestnuts have been carried as good luck charms.
Where can I find horse chestnuts?
Horse chestnut is native to Southeast Europe, where it grows in mixed forests. The American chestnut is native to the Eastern U.S. hardwood forest. The Ohio buckeye is native to the forests of Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, northern Iowa and Illinois, and east to western Pennsylvania. Plant horse chestnut in full or part sun in well-drained soil ...
How long can chestnuts be refrigerated?
This longer, refrigerated curing process will increase their storability. The quickest way to cure chestnuts is to store them at room temperature for a few days; however, room temperature conditions will also dehydrate the chestnuts and so they will need to be consumed in a timely manner.
How to know if chestnuts are cured?
When selecting cured chestnuts at the store or market, consumers should inspect them carefully for quality just you would inspect a banana or pear. A ripe chestnut should have a slight give when squeezed, indicating they have been properly cured. A rock hard chestnut may require more curing time. A chestnut shell with a great deal of give indicates it is past its prime and has become dehydrated or has internal disorder. Lastly, when purchasing chestnuts, be sure the store or market is storing them in a chilled environment for maximum quality.
How to prepare chestnuts for roasting?
Chestnuts may be roasted in the oven, over a fire or even in the microwave. To roast chestnuts, be sure to score through the shell to ensure steam can escape and to prevent a messy and loud explosion.
How long does it take for chestnuts to cure?
Chestnuts require a two- to three-week curing process to achieve maximum quality and sweetness. Chestnuts purchased from the store should have already undergone the curing process and should be ready to eat. Stores should be holding whole chestnuts under refrigeration for maximum quality.
What does it mean when a chestnut shell is dehydrated?
A chestnut shell with a great deal of give indicates it is past its prime and has become dehydrated or has internal disorder . Lastly, when purchasing chestnuts, be sure the store or market is storing them in a chilled environment for maximum quality. Chestnuts properly stored in a produce cooler at the grocery store.
What is a colossal chestnut?
Photo by Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension. Chestnut is one of the world’s most popular and unique nut-bearing trees. Fresh chestnuts contain vitamin C and are much lower in fat than other nuts and contain twice as much starch as a potato, ...
What is the name of the tree with the most starch?
Fresh chestnuts contain vitamin C and are much lower in fat than other nuts and contain twice as much starch as a potato, earning the chestnut tree the nickname “bread tree” in some regions of the world. Chestnut acreage in the U.S. has increased substantially over the past 30 years and Michigan boasts the largest number ...
What is the cause of the extinction of chestnut trees?
Also, in North America, the main native species, the American chestnut ( C. dentata) was almost wiped out by chestnut blight ( Cryphonectria parasitica ), accidentally introduced from Asia in the early 20th century. As a result, many North Americans have never see a chestnut tree and their only encounter with chestnuts is likely to be through the roasted nuts offered on street corners or in supermarkets.
What family is a chestnut tree in?
The chestnut ( Castanea) belongs to the Fagaceae, the beech and oak family. The horse chestnut ( Aesculus ), long in its own family, the Hippocastanaceae, was recently transferred to the Sapindaceae, the soapberry family. But the nuts of chestnuts and chestnut trees do look very similar.
What is the game where you hang nuts on a string?
You may remember harvesting the nuts and using them to play conkers (a child’s game where they are hung on a string and banged together; the owner of the one that doesn’t break becoming the winner).
Why is it called a horse chestnut?
In the long distant past, someone began calling one plant “horse chestnut”, because its chestnutlike nuts could be used to treat horses of respiratory ailments, and the name stuck.
Where are chestnuts roasted?
Roasted chestnuts on a street corner in France, where they’re called “marrons”. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire: thus begins Nat King Cole’s classic Christmas song. One has to hope that they were true chestnuts (edible) and not horse chestnuts (toxic). And the nuts do look much alike, even though the trees they come from are very different.
How many leaflets are in a compound leaf?
Compound leaf with 5 to 7 leaflets.
Is horse chestnut poisonous to humans?
Besides being roasted over open fires and sold as roasted nuts on street corners, the chestnut can be used as turkey stuffing or turned into chestnut cream. The horse chestnut ( Aesculus ), on the other hand, is slightly toxic to humans and many mammals, although not to squirrels or deer.
What tree does horse chestnut come from?
In this early autumn period, horse chestnuts, which grow and fall from the horse chestnut or conker tree, are frequently confused with sweet chestnuts, which come from the sweet or Spanish chestnut tree.
How many nuts are in a chestnut cupule?
The sweet chestnut's cupule, known as a "burr", is brown and has numerous long bristly spines. It contains two to three nuts at a time, which are fairly small, flattened and triangular; Horse chestnut cupules are thick and green, with small, short, wider spaced spikes, and generally contain only one larger rounded nut.
What is the difference between a horse chestnut leaf and a sweet chestnut leaf?
Each horse chestnut leaf consists of several oval "leaflets", which give the whole leaf a palm-shaped appearance, whereas sweet chestnut leaves are simple and elongated without le aflets. Take care not to confuse them and enjoy!
What is a chestnut purée?
Indeed, although we commonly talk about "chestnuts", "candied chestnuts" and "chestnut purée" or "cream", we are actually only referring to a large sweet chestnut variety grown specifically for consumption.
Is horse chestnut poisonous?
While cultivated or wild sweet chestnuts are edible, horse chestnuts are toxic, and can cause digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or throat irritation.
What color are chestnut horses?
Chestnut is often described simply as “red”, often takes on a darker sheen, or can even look wine-colored. They can be darker than a sorrel and can include horses whose coats have a brownish tint to them. Chestnut horses can have manes and tails that are flaxen (as a sorrel horse’s are) or that can match the color of their body.
How to tell if a horse has agouti?
The differences in genetics, then, is the agouti gene. On a sorrel or chestnut horse we can’t visually tell if the horse has agouti or not. The gene does not express itself on a red-based horse so a DNA test is the best way to know with certainty whether or not the sorrel or chestnut horse carries Agouti.
What color is a sorrel horse?
Basically, a sorrel horse has a completely red base coat color (aside from the possibility of white markings), and a chestnut horse’s coat color can be any shade of red, including almost brown or ‘liver’ chestnut. Many people describe a sorrel as a “true” red. The red can be any shade, whether it’s light or dark.
Why are horses red?
Essentially, the red coat, in all shades, is the result of genetics allowing for two recessive genes to determine color.
Why do two red parents always produce a red foal?
Since it is a recessive gene, the presence of any other gene color would override it and cancel out the red. For this reason, too, two red parents will always produce a red foal, as the only color genes they carry are red.
How to determine horse coat color?
Determining your horse’s coat color is as easy as pulling a few hairs and sending them in for analysis. My article on Equine DNA Testing has some great resources for you to check out.
What is the darkest chestnut?
Liver chestnut: This is the darkest chestnut – in fact, the darkest of all the red shades! It presents as a reddish black. It can even be so dark, that sometimes this shade of red can look almost fully black or even with purple tones. Sometimes this is also referred to as “dark chestnut”.
What is a Baumann's horse chestnut?
Baumann’s horse chestnut ( Aesculus baumannii ) produces double, white blooms. This tree produces no nuts, which reduces litter (a common complaint about horse chestnut and buckeye trees). Red horse chestnut ( Aesculus x carnea ), possibly native to Germany, is thought to be a hybrid of the common horse chestnut and red buckeye.
How tall is a horse chestnut tree?
Growth Habit. Horse chestnut is a large, stately tree that reaches heights of 100 feet (30 m.) at maturity. In spring, horse chestnut produces clusters of white flowers with a reddish tinge. Buckeye is smaller, topping out at about 50 feet (15 m.). It produces pale yellow blooms in early summer.
How tall is a California Buckeye tree?
In the wild, it can reach heights of up to 40 feet (12 m.), but usually tops out at only 15 feet (5 m.). Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 03/08/19.
How tall is a buckeye?
Red buckeye ( Aesculus pavia or Aesculus pavia x hippocastanum ), also known as firecracker plant, is a clump-forming shrub that reaches heights of only 8 to 10 feet ( 2-3 m.). Red buckeye is native to the southeastern United States.
When do buckeye nuts ripen?
Nuts of the buckeye tree ripen in late summer and early fall, generally producing one shiny nut in each bumpy, brown husk. Horse chestnuts consist of up to four nuts inside spiny green husks. Buckeyes and horse chestnuts are both poisonous.
Where do buckeye trees come from?
Buckeye trees, so named for the shiny seed that resembles the eye of a deer, is native to North America. Horse chestnut (which isn’t related to the common chestnut tree ), hales from the Balkan region of Eastern Europe. Today, horse chestnut trees are widely grown across the northern hemisphere. Here’s how these Aesculus trees are different.
Is a buckeye the same as a horse chestnut?
Both are types of Aesculus trees: Ohio buckeye ( Aesculus glabra) and common horse chestnut ( Aesculus hippocastanum ). Although the two have many similar attributes, they aren’t the same. Are you wondering how to tell the difference between buckeyes ...
Which Horses Are Red?
The red factor or better known as the recessive gene gives chestnuts and sorrels a red coat. To set things straight, the effects of the recessive gene won’t be evident if there’s another predominant gene. It’s the trait of the dominant gene that comes to the surface and can get observed.
The Ultimate Differences Between Sorrels And Chestnuts
How you name a specific horse coat color usually depends on the level of darkness or lightness. As discussed above, sorrel horses have an entirely red base color, while chestnuts coats are often brown or ‘liver’ tint.
How Much Do Sorrels Or Chestnuts Cost?
Horse prices can range significantly based on various factors. Depending on the age, location, and breeding, a horse can cost you as much as $100,000. However, the average price tag of a sorrel or chestnut horse is about $5,000. Here are the aspects that define the mark:
Organizational Divisions
Establishing the correct terminology based on coat color can lead to arguments between equine lovers. Figuring out the difference is particularly questionable when people decide whether a horse is a sorrel or chestnut color.
Bottom Line
The difference between sorrels and chestnuts is that the first type is lighter, more coppery, red with possible white markings. The second has a darker or richer red coat. In a genetic sense, both variants have recessive genes that give the reddish tint. Other color genes in the parents will outweigh the red.