Buckeye, Ohio

This tree is the Ohio Buckeye, or Aesculus glabra, and is also the state tree of Ohio! The most interesting feature of this tree is its fruit; a round, leathery capsule with spikes. Inside the capsule is the famous buckeye, which got its name for looking like a buck's eye. While the fruits of this tree are considered poisonous, Native Americans used to boil these fruits to make them edible. You might also notice this tree's large leaves with five leaflets and finely toothed edges. Setting this tree apart from others, the Ohio Buckeye's leaves turn an orange-red color in the late summer and loses its leaves before many other species. The mature bark of this tree is light brown and spongy in texture with no distinct pattern.