Value for planting: On account of its showy flowers, the horsechestnut is a favorite for the park and lawn.
Commercial value: The wood is not durable and is not used commercially.
Other characters: The flowers appear in large white clusters in May and June. The fruit is large, round, and prickly.
Fig. 21.—Leaf of the Horsechestnut.
Comparisons: The red horsechestnut differs from this tree in having red flowers. The buckeye is similar to the horsechestnut, but its bud is not sticky and is of a lighter gray color, while the leaf generally has only five leaflets.
The White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Distinguishing characters: The terminal twigs of glossy olive green color are flattened below the bud. [Fig. 22]. The bud is rusty-brown.