common horse chestnut

The common horse chestnut, scientifically known as Aesculus hippocastanum, is a large tree native to southeastern Europe. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and shade tree. The tree is characterized by its palmately compound leaves and erect, cone-shaped clusters of showy flowers. In the fall, prickly husks split open to reveal one or two shiny, mahogany-brown nuts, also called horse chestnuts. The name "horse chestnut" is thought to originate from the practice of feeding the nuts to horses to treat ailments like broken wind. The European species can grow up to 30 meters (100 feet) tall.12