Aesculus × carnea. RED HORSE CHESTNUT. North American
HIPPOCASTANACEAE (Horse chestnut family)
A cross between the common horse chestnut and the red buckeye (A. pavia), this tree is very striking when in bloom. The five-stemmed leaflets have rounded sawteeth. See an example in the southeast courtyard of Wilbur Hall and four at 817 Pine Hill Road. Two beautiful specimens inside the Frost Amphitheater fence on the north are distinguished by the presence of both pink and yellow flowers on the same spike. Many have been planted on the west side of the Shopping Center. March 2006 two trees of Aesculus c. 'Briotii,' a cultivar originating in 1858 with bright scarlet flowers, were planted at Braun Music courtyard (facing Post Office), Braun Music south side, and Roble Gym south entry.
Illustration: McMinn, Howard E. and Evelyn Maino. 1951. An illustrated manual of Pacific coast trees; with lists of trees recommended for various uses on the Pacific coast by H. W. Shepherd. 2d ed. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.
Name derivation, genus | species: Aesculus: the Latin name for a kind of oak bearing edible acorns but applied by Linnaeus to this genus | carnea: flesh-colored, from California Plant NamesRelated material: Canopy Trees for Palo Alto Tree Library