WILDLIFE IN THE FENS
HORSE CHESTNUTAescuus hippocastanum HIPPOCASTANACEAE
It is one of the many mysteries of plant distribution. that a tree which is so easily grown and often self sown throughout Europe - temperate Asia and N. America should be restricted as a wild species to a small area in the Balkans. The Horse Chestnut is a stately tree with a large - round - densely leafy crown up to 100 feet in height - and with the spread of branches almost as great. It was introduced into Britain as an ornamental in the 17th century . The wood is little used - being soft and perishable.
The most familiar part of the Horse Chestnut is the spiny seed case - splitting open along three 'seams' to reveal the one or two seeds - 'conkers' (conquerors) within. The glory of the tree as an ornamental - however - is in the erect cylindrical 'candles' of pink or white flowers - each almost an inch across and very attractive to the bumble bees which pollinate them. The leaves are formed of 5 7 leaflets all tapering to their common point of insertion on the stalks the sticky leaf buds 'are used as winter decoration.