93. Aesculus hippocastanum – Horse Chestnut
Scientific Name: Aesculus hippocastanum
Nativity: Southeast Europe
Interesting Info:
This species is native to the mixed forests of the Pindus Mountains and Balkans. The common name comes from the mix-up that the round seeds were a form of chestnut, which is untrue, and are toxic to horses, which is true. In Germany, horse chestnuts were often planted near beer gardens for shade. Raw horse chestnut seeds are toxic because of the presence of esculin. The most famous horse chestnut tree is in Amsterdam, as it was mentioned in the diary of Anne Frank.