Maidenhair fir (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Other names: horse chestnut, wild chestnut, chestnut, wild chestnut, pig chestnut, madder, Horse chestnut, Aesculus castanea, Hippocastanum vulgare

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

Horse chestnut, or horse chestnut, is a southern European tree species, cultivated by frequent seed shipments across Europe and the world since the 16th century. The madder, as it is also called, grows up to 25 metres tall and has a broadly spreading crown. It is mainly widespread in ornamental gardens and park landscaping, but is also widely planted in urban green spaces. It is popular for its spectacular appearance and longevity - some specimens reach an age of up to 300 years!

Apart from its ornamental use, it is also a medicinal plant. Extracts from its seeds are used in preparations that treat varicose veins and haemorrhoids. Mullein also enters into the composition of ointments and creams designed for careful skin, aqueous solutions for the treatment of burns, hormonal creams and products for cellulite. The seeds themselves, known popularly as "chestnut", are often taken into apartments as a natural protection against spiders and other insects. They are also used to make a mixture for feeding wild animals, especially deer, during the winter months. But be warned, eating the seeds of the madder tree is poisonous to humans.