Grid reference | ST 15450 76933 |
Common name | Horse chestnut |
Origin | Albania and Greece |
Deciduous | Yes |
Height | 24M February 2016 |
Girth | 393cm February 2016 |
Reference | 403 |
This tree is located by a path junction just north of the Ranger's Office.
General tree description
Aesculus hippocastanum is a large tree, growing up to 39 metres, with a domed crown. Its bark is smooth and pink-grey in young trees, becoming browner and coarser when mature. The leaves unfold early and are palmately compound, with five to seven stalkless leaflets, jaggedly-toothed. Each leaflet is 13 to 30cm long, making the whole leaf up to 60cm across. The flowers are exceptionally attractive, appearing in spring and early summer in white candles 10 to 30cm tall, with a yellow spot that turns red. After pollination they are followed by fruits, which mature in autumn to conkers in green, spiny husks. Each conker is 2 to 4cm diameter, glossy nut-brown with a whitish scar at the base.