Red peacock (Aesculus pavia)

Other names: Peacock chestnut, Pavia rubra, Red buckeye, Aesculus austrina, Aesculus discolor, Aesculus humilis, Red horse chestnut, Red chestnut, Red buckeye, Red horse chestnut, Aesculus x carnea, Red chestnut

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

The red peacock, also known as the peacock fir, red fir, red horse chestnut, red chestnut or skin fir, is one of the species of fir tree native to North America. It is a popular ornamental tree, dominated by its deep red flowers arranged in long racemes. Unlike other sycamores, it does not produce large fruits, but smaller and smooth chestnuts. It grows slowly and reaches a height of 5 to 10 metres. It is frost-resistant and prefers semi-shady sites.

In addition to its aesthetic function in park landscaping, it is also used medicinally. Like the common sycamore, it has a high content of esculin, a compound that has anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory) and venotonic (vascular-strengthening) effects. For this reason it is used in preparations for hemorrhoids and vascular diseases of the lower limbs. In addition, peacock fir has psychotropic effects and has been used in the treatment of nervous diseases. The young leaves and flowers of the baboon are used in the kitchen and added to salads, although most parts of the tree are poisonous.