California Buckeye
Aesculus californica

[ES-kew-lus  kal-ih-FOR-nik-uh]

FAMILY: Hippocastanaceae (Buckeye)

DESCRIPTION: {native} These shrubs or smallish trees are the first deciduous trees to produce new leaves in early spring, and the first to loose it's leaves in early summer. It has large, many flowered showy spikes of white flowers with large and leathery seed pods.

HABITAT: Dry slopes, canyons and stream borders below 5,500'.

NOTES: All parts of this plant are TOXIC. Crushed seeds have been used as fish poison; it's pollen and nectar are toxic to honey bees.