Adding some info. from 'A pictorial guide to the plants of the Indian sub-continent' by Aima- wherein both the species of Aesculus assamica, Griff. and Aesculus indica, Colebr. are described. In Etymology on pg 8 & pg 16 it is mentioned that Aesculus is from Greek *esca* - meaning food; refering to the food value of the kernels- as a flour was ground from the Kernels of some of the species; assamica refers to Assam, similarly indica refers to India.
A.assamica Griff. is described as a large deciduous tree with a hemispherical crown. Bark deep brown shining with irregular patches of grey -brown. Leaves digitately compound, leaflets upto 30 cm long, *obtusely serrulate*. Fruit a large leatherly capsule, 2-3 valved, seed solitary, 2.5- 3.5 cm across, testa hard shining. Distribution is mentioned as North-eastern region of India. *Bark employed as a fish poison.* Seeds yield a fatty oil. A. indica Colebr. is described as a large deciduous tree, trunk short, attaining a large girth. wood white, soft Buds scaly. Leaves opposite, digitate, leaflets 5-9, the central ones largest, *acuminate, sharply serrate*.Fruit a capsule. Seeds exalbuminous, dark brown, smooth shining. Cotyledons thick, fleshy. Distributionis N.W. Himalaya 4000-9000 ft. Kullu, Chamba, Kumaon, Tehri- Garhwal, and Kashmir. Leaves and twigs are used as fodder. *Fruits edible.* Wood is also used for mathematical scales and packing cases. After going through the comparison and having seen in flowering stage A. assamica at Shillong, I think this one is A. assamica although a close up of the bark would help in this case. regards, Rashida. On Sat, Oct 16, 2010 at 10:02 AM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > Some earlier reply: > "I shall also go with Aesculus indica" from Dr. M.K.Pathak. > > On 15 October 2010 18:52, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Forwarding again for Id assistance pl. >> >> Earlier relevant feedback: >> *“Is it from is from Anacardiaceae? >> *regards, >> Dr.Kadus Arvind,Pune” >> >> >> *“Aesculus by any chance? Family Sapindaceae. >> *Pankaj” >> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: raghu ananth <[email protected]> >> Date: 8 August 2010 11:13 >> Subject: [efloraofindia:43738] Fruiting tree for ID from Jaipur forest | >> 08Aug10AR01 >> To: [email protected] >> >> >> >> Leaf size 30cms approx >> Petiole -40cms >> Leaf edge entire >> Palmate - 7 leaves >> >> Date/Time : >> >> 18/Jul/2010 10.49AM >> >> >> >> Location- Place, altitude and GPS: >> >> >> Joypur (Jaipur) forests, Naharkatia, 75 kms from Dibrugarh, Assam, >> >> >> >> Habitat- garden/ urban/wild/type: >> >> Wild, Sub tropical wet evergreen forests. >> >> >> >> Plant Habit-tree/shrub/climber/herb: >> >> Tree, >> >> >> >> Height/length: >> >> 15 feet approx, >> >> >> >> Leaves-type/shape/size: >> >> /Green color/Acuminate/ >> >> Leaf size 30cms approx >> Petiole -40cms >> Leaf edge entire >> Palmate - 7 leaves >> >> >> >> Inflorescence type /size: >> >> >> >> - >> >> >> >> Flowers-size/colour/calyx/bracts: >> >> >> >> No flowers >> >> >> >> Fruits type-shape/size/seeds: >> >> >> >> Spherical/brown/7-10cmscms >> >> >> >> Fragrance/odour/pollinator/uses and so on: >> >> >> >> - We could see three such trees. >> >> - This is a low light photograph on a rainy day >> >> Regards >> Raghu >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> With regards, >> J.M.Garg ([email protected]) >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 >> 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' >> The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a *thousand species*& >> eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged >> alphabetically & place-wise): >> http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg. You can also use >> them for free as per liberal licensing conditions attached with each >> image. >> For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, >> please visit/ join our Google e-group- Efloraofindia: >> http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix (more than 1400 members & >> 50,000 messages on 10/10/10 & with a database of around 4100 species on >> 31/8/10) >> >> > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg ([email protected]) > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' > The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a *thousand species* & > eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged > alphabetically & place-wise): > http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg. You can also use them > for free as per liberal licensing conditions attached with each image. > For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, > please visit/ join our Google e-group- Efloraofindia: > http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix (more than 1400 members & > 50,000 messages on 10/10/10 & with a database of around 4100 species on > 31/8/10) > >
