What is a Buckeye
January 1st, 2010
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There is keen interest in the term Buckeye at present. What is a buckeye you may ask?
The Ohio Buckeye is the state tree of Ohio, otherwise known as the Aesculus glabra Willdenow.
The tree is known for it’s short trunk narrow crown which can reach a height of around 50 feet, but some old one’s may grow a lot taller.
It is also easily recognisable as it has a palm shape leaf with five to seven leaves shaped like fingers on a hand. The tree also has small yellow clusters of flowers at the end of the branches around late April to early May.
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They can usually be found in native settings around river banks close to the water source.
They not only feature in Ohio, but also Indiana, Illinois, Southern Iowa and Missouri to eastern Arkansas, Oklahoma and also Texas.
In years gone by the tree were seen everywhere in the forest, and were considered valuable timber trees, although today they are not used as much, except occasionally as a cultivated landscape plant, and also for its seeds which are seen as good luck charms.
The white wood from the tree which is fine grained, and moderately soft, was especially popular for turning and making such things as wooden-ware, like bowls, spoons, handles and boxes or ornaments. Being that it is very easy to carve and is not easy to split, it was once used as a material to make artificial limbs, and also used for flooring, the bodies of wooden vehicles and also for inexpensive furniture.
The bark from the tree also produces a yellow dye, which has been used for tanning leather, and the seends were also used for things such as a source of oil for lamps, an insecticide and also as bookbinders paste.