Fresh horse chestnut leaf in early spring
Horse chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum), also known as conker tree, buckeye and Spanish chestnut, are native to the Balkan Peninsula but grow throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Although horse chestnut is sometimes called buckeye, it should not be confused with the Ohio or California buckeye trees, which are related but not the same species. The nuts or conkers, especially when young and fresh, are slightly poisonous, containing alkaloid saponins and glucosides. They are not dangerous to touch but cause sickness if eaten. However, some mammals, such as deer, are able to break down the poisons and eat them safely. They are reputed to be good for horses with wind, but this is unproven and feeding them to horses is NOT advisable. The saponin aescin, however, has been used for health purposes (such as varicose veins, edema, sprains) and is available in food supplements, as is a related glucoside aesculin. In the UK every autumn (fall) for generations, a favourite childrens' game is conkers. To play the game you must first make a hole through the middle of the conker and then thread a strong piece of string about 25cm long through the hole and tie a knot at one end, so that it doesn't pull through. The game is played by two people each player having a conker hanging on its string. Players take turns at hitting their opponent's conker with their own conker. The contestant whose conker is to be hit first lets it hang down from the string which is wrapped round the hand. The opponent, the striker, also wraps the conker string around the hand and then takes his conker in the other hand and draws it back for the strike. Releasing the conker he swings it down by the string held in the other hand and tries to hit his opponents conker with it. The game continues in turns until one or other of the two conkers is completely destroyed.
Size: 3104px × 4672px
Location: Leicestershire, England
Photo credit: © Andy J Hollingbery / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: aesculus, chestnut, conker, green, hippocastanum, horse, leaf, leaves, palmate, spring, tree
