Large to medium sized, trees or shrubs, generally tanniferous. Leaves
opposite, palmately 3 - 11 or more foliolate, exstipulate; leaflets obovate or
oblong, serrate to serrulate. Inflorescence in terminal panicles or racemes,
showy. Flowers large, on jointed pedicels, hypogynous, somewhat irregular,
perfect or some functionally staminate. Sepals 5, nearly free, imbricate or
united to form a tube. Petals 4 - 5, free, unequal, clawed, imbricate. Nectary
disc small, extrastaminal and often unilateral. Stamens 5 - 8, distinct, in two
whorls; inner whorl complete of 5 stamens; outer whorl incomplete;
anthers tetrasporangiate and dithecal, opening lengthwise. Gynoecium of
(2-) 3-(-4) carpels, united to form a compound, plurilocular ovary with
terminal style and papillate simple or obscurely lobed stigma; ovules 2 in each
locule. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, often unilocular and 1-seeded by abortion,
dehiscing by 3 valves. Seeds few, large, with hard testa; endosperm
wanting.
Temperate N. America, S. America, Balkan Peninsula, Europe, S. and E. Asia; 2 genera and ca 25 species, 1 genus and 2 species in India.
Literature. SANTAPAU, H. (1961) The Genus. Aesculus L. in India - A correction. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 3 (2): 207. NASIR, E. (1975). Hippocatanaceae. Nasir, E. & S.I., Ali, Fl. W. Pakistan 82: 1 - 3.
Temperate N. America, S. America, Balkan Peninsula, Europe, S. and E. Asia; 2 genera and ca 25 species, 1 genus and 2 species in India.
Literature. SANTAPAU, H. (1961) The Genus. Aesculus L. in India - A correction. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 3 (2): 207. NASIR, E. (1975). Hippocatanaceae. Nasir, E. & S.I., Ali, Fl. W. Pakistan 82: 1 - 3.
