Aesculus pavia - Marronier à fleurs rouges
Famille: Hippocastanaceae, Genre: Aesculus
Marronier de Virginie, Marronnier, Marronnier rouge, Pavier
Arbuste à croissance rapide et à feuilles caduques (5m de haut par 3m de large).
Habitat
- Exposition
- Toutes expositions
- Humidité
- Humidité moyenne.
- Sol
- Tous sols. Nécessite un sol drainant.
- pH
- Sol acide ou calcaire
- Rusticité
- Zone 5
- Habitat originel
- Rich moist soils in deciduous woods, on the sides of streams and swamp margins[149, 192, 229].
- Origine géographique
- South-eastern N. America - Virginia to Florida, west to Louisiana.
Dangers connus
- The seed is rich in saponins [169].
- Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm .
- Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans .
- They can be removed by carefully leaching the seed or flour in running water .
- Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them .
- However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins .
- Les saponines sont beaucoup plus toxique pour certains animaux, comme les poissons; des tribus de pêcheurs en ont traditionnellement mis de grandes quantitié dans les rivières et les lacs pour droguer ou tuer les poissons [K].
Comestibilité
- Graines - cuites .
- It can be dried and ground into a powder and used as a gruel .
- The seed is quite large, about 25mm in diameter[227], and is easily harvested .
- Unfortunately, the seed is also rich in saponins and these need to be removed before it can be eaten .
- See also the notes above on toxicity .
- The following notes apply to A. californica, but are probably also relevant here:- .
- .
- .
- .
- The seed needs to be leached of toxins before it becomes safe to eat - the Indians would do this by slow-roasting the nuts (which would have rendered the saponins harmless) and then cutting them into thin slices, putting them into a cloth bag and rinsing them in a stream for 2 - 5 days [213].
- Most of the minerals etc would also have been leached out by this treatment [K].
Usages médicinaux
- The powdered bark is hypnotic and odontalgic .
- It is used in the treatment of ulcers [149, 192, 227].
- A poultice of the powdered seeds has been used in the treatment of cancer tumours and infections, and as a salve for sores [257].
- An infusion of the roots has been used as a bath in the treatment of dyspepsia [257].
Autres usages
- Saponins in the seed and roots are a soap substitute [149, 169].
- The saponins can be easily obtained by chopping the seed into small pieces and infusing them in hot water .
- This water can then be used for washing the body, clothes etc .
- Its main drawback is a lingering odour of horse chestnuts [K].
Culture
- Prefers a deep loamy well-drained soil but is not too fussy [1, 11].
- Very shade tolerant, it also succeeds in a sunny position [200].
- A very ornamental shrub, when dormant it is hardy to about -15°c[184] though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts .
- It prefers a continental climate, growing best in eastern and south-eastern England [200].
- Trees are fast-growing in the wild, though they are also short-lived [229].
- They can commence flowering when only 1 metre tall [229].
- Plants spread by means of suckers [200].
- There are a number of named varieties, developed for their ornamental value .
- Var .
- 'Humilis' is a low growing form [182].
- Most members of this genus transplant easily, even when fairly large [11].
Propagation
- Seed - best sown outdoors or in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe [11, 80].
- The seed germinates almost immediately and must be given protection from severe weather [130].
- The seed has a very limited viability and must not be allowed to dry out .
- Stored seed should be soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing and even after this may still not be viable [80, 113].
- It is best to sow the seed with its 'scar' downwards [130].
- If sowing the seed in a cold frame, pot up the seedlings in early spring and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer .
- Division des rejets durant la saison dormante [200].
- The suckers can be planted out straight into their permanent positions if required .
Calendrier
- En fleur
- 6
- Maturité des graines
- 9
Pollinisation
- Type de fleur
- Hermaphrodite (les fleurs ont des organes mâles et femelles)
- Auto-fertile
- Non
- Pollinisateurs
- Abeilles
Divers
- Pollution
- Non
- Autres réferences
- [11, 82, 200]
Réferences
[1] RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 1951.
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[11] Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. 1981.
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[80] Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. 1985.
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
[82] Manual of the Trees of N. America. 1965.
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.
[113] The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. 1987.
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
[130] The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. 1982.
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants, including Distylium racemosum and some perennial members of the family Berberidaceae.
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants, including Distylium racemosum and some perennial members of the family Berberidaceae.
[149] Trees of Central Texas. 1987.
Fairly readable, it gives details of habitats and some of the uses of trees growing in Texas.
Fairly readable, it gives details of habitats and some of the uses of trees growing in Texas.
[169] A Weavers Garden.
Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.
Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.
[182] Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. 1992.
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
[192] Narcotic Plants 1979.
A lot of details about the history, chemistry and use of narcotic plants, including hallucinogens, stimulants, inebriants and hypnotics.
A lot of details about the history, chemistry and use of narcotic plants, including hallucinogens, stimulants, inebriants and hypnotics.
[200] The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[213] Earth Medicine, Earth Food. 1980.
A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
[227] Trees of North Texas 1982.
A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.
A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.
[229] The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. 1980.
A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.
A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.
[257] Native American Ethnobotany 1998.
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
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