Ohio State Tree – Ohio Buckeye – Aesculus glabra
Ohio Buckeye Sapindaceae Aesculus glabra
Leaf: Opposite, palmately compound with 5 leaflets. Oval to obovate leaflets
are 3 to 6 inches long with a serrated margin, rachis about as long as leaflets.
Dark green above and paler below. Strong fetid odor when crushed.
Leaf: Opposite, palmately compound with 5 leaflets. Oval to obovate leaflets
are 3 to 6 inches long with a serrated margin, rachis about as long as leaflets.
Dark green above and paler below. Strong fetid odor when crushed.
Flower: Light yellow, in large, 4 to 7 inch, showy, upright clusters. Stamens
are longer than petals. Appear in April to May.
Fruit: Prickly, leathery husk enclosing usually 1 smooth chestnut brown seed
(1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter). Borne on a stout stalk and mature in October.
Twig: Stout, with a large shield shaped leaf scar. Fetid odor when broken.
Terminal buds are large, orangish brown with keeled scales. Opposite lateral
buds are much smaller.
Bark: Initially smooth, ashy gray but later developing corky, scaly patches,
becoming quite rough and darker gray.
Form: Upright, medium sized tree, 60 to 80 feet tall, 2 feet in diameter. Oblong
crown with pendulous up turning branches.
Copyright 2019 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental
Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen,
Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson;Silvics reprinted from Ag
Handbook 654; range map source information
Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen,
Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson;Silvics reprinted from Ag
Handbook 654; range map source information