Aesculus flava
Named after their large eye-patterned fruit, yellow buckeye is a prominent species across the Appalachian Mountains. Back during the Roman Empire, Aesculus was a common word given to any oak or tree with seeds that were eaten by livestock. Though funny enough, yellow buckeyes and all other Aesculus trees are actually poisonous to cattle and other ruminants. The only animals with a palate for them are squirrels. They are poisonous to humans as well, but Native Americans historically consumed them by detoxifying them through process of roasting and soaking. They also used their moderate toxicity to their advantage by grounding the nuts into a mash which was then thrown into waterbodies to stun and/or kill fish.
Family: Sapindaceae
Foliage: Deciduous
Mature height range: 50-75 ft.
Light exposure: Partial to Full Shade
Soil preference: Moist, rich, but well-drained
Tolerance: Winter hardy but is susceptible to leaf scorch
Wildlife: fruit are eaten by squirrels, pollinated by insects
