Aesculus indica (Colebr. ex Cambess.) Hook.

The Himalayan ‘horse chestnut’ is found wild, and is also cultivated as an ornamental tree, from 1200-3300 m. Boissier (FI.Or.l:946) mentions the occurrence of the European tree (Aesculus hippocastanum Linn.) in N. India, but there are no known collections from our area. The bark is astringent and used as a tonic and febrifuge. The leaves are used as fodder. The fruit is officinal and applied in rheumatic pains. The seeds can be eaten.

Tree, 20 m or more tall. Petiole 10-15 cm long; petiolule 0.5-2 cm long. Leaflets 5-7(-9), elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 10-20 cm long, 2.5-7 cm broad, acuminate, the middle one the largest, subserrate, cuneate, glabrous. Panicles 15-30 cm long, puberulous to tomentose. Calyx tube c. 5 mm long, campanulate, puberulous; lobes acute or rounded, 1.5-2 mm long. Petals 4, unequal, white, tinged yellow, 1.3-2.3 cm long, clawed, puberulous on the outside. Disc anterior, lobed. Anthers 2-2.5 mm long, oblong, sparsely pubescent; filaments about the size of the petals or longer, slightly curved, glabrous. Ovary elongated, c. 5 mm long, puberulous; style c. as long as the filaments. Capsule more or less ovoid; 3-4.5 (-5) cm long, smooth. Seeds 2.7-3.5 cm broad, dark brown and shiny.

Afghanistan, Himalaya (Kashmir to Nepal).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan and the W. Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal.

1900-2400 m

Fl. Per.: April-May; Fr. Per.: Oct.-Nov.