The Horse-chestnut Family (Hippocastanaceae)
	Family Description	This is quite a small family group, containing trees and shrubs.
	Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum	This is a large deciduous tree, with large buds. It is not native to Britain. It has been introduced, and is a native of Greece and Albania.
	Habitat	Commonly planted as an ornamental tree, and so is often found in gardens and parks.
	Special features	Dark greyish brown bark, which eventually flakes. Deep red-brown sticky buds. The leaves are made up of 5 to 7 coarse-toothed leaflets.
	Reproduction	The flowers have white petals, which develop a yellow or pink blotch at the base. The pollen is red, and found on long stamens, which arch downwards. Bumble bees are attracted to the flowers, and do the job of pollination. The fruit is a large, prickly, leathery, yellow-green capsule. When ripe, it splits into three sections. Inside the fruit, the huge seed is dark brown and shiny, and is popularly known as a "conker". If the conker lands on fertile soil, it can germinate, and grow into a new horse-chestnut tree.
	Distribution	Seasonal The flowers appear in May and June. Geographical Abundant in central and southern Britain.
	Fun Fact	A popular game is played with conkers. Conkers are attached to a string and bounced against an opponent's conker. The winner is the person who can smash the opponent's conker into pieces. People often try to make their conker strong by soaking it in vinegar, or baking it in an oven.