Tree Identificaiton

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Last weekend I walked Ann and Mike Kendig's beautiful wooded lot.  There were so many beautiful trees.

She and I debated on the types of two trees there.

She has many trees that look like Buckeye Trees and she thought that is what they may be. To me, the outer shells do not look like the Buckeye Trees I'm used to seeing.  Since she is in a different part of Ohio, maybe a different type of Buckeye?

I found a link that said these may be Horse Chestnuts.  Inside they look exactly like a Buckeye. Your thoughts.  And if you have experience with Horse Chestnuts, what can you do with them?

It is my experience ( barefoot ) that that outer shell of Buckeyes is very needle-like.  It hurts.  The spikes from this seed are smooth.

Now here is the second tree she showed me. She gave me a name,. but I can't think of it right now.  She told me, they will taste like Bananas when harvested.  Yum.  And what can you do with these. She has so many.  Can you can them?  Freeze them?  Any info?

Click on for better quality.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The pictures I've seen on the internet of the shells do not look like Horse Chestnuts either.  Too bad my pictures are poor.

The shells h ave very dull, short stubby spikes.  Thick.

The picture below shows thin, and sharp spikes.  My thoughts are her trees are not Buckeye or Horse Chestnuts.  Or maybe her Buckeye Shells are just different than mine  :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That second one is a Paw Paw tree. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimina_triloba

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

That's IT!  Paw Paw.   Have you eaten one? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, I googled "tree fruit tastes like banana", lol, and got it right away.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Well, my beans.  I spent so much time looking at nuts ( no I did not find a picture of me) that I never did a search on " tree fruit that tastes like Banana)  Too easy.

Thank you

[Gail and Bailey]

This is interesting.http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/09/29/140894570/the-pawpaw-fo...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Gail and Baily,

Great video. I've added it to the main body of the discussion 

Thank You!  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

huh. It is not working. I'll try to just place it here then.

Nope.

Okay, well click on Gail's link.  Nice video

[F, Calla & Luca]

Interesting. I suspect I wouldn't like them. I'm not a big tropical fruit lover although I've grown fond of mangoes.

[Gail and Bailey]

I know a gal here in southern Indiana who planted a bunch of Pawpaw trees because she loves the fruit.  I have never tried it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The first does not look like our horse chestnut fruit which is more spiny. I don't think they are good for much. Just looked up horse chestnuts and buckeyes are listed as horse chestnuts. The fruit is poisonous. All in all, don't eat them!

The second looks like a PawPaw, approriate for dog lovers. I've actually never seen one nor eaten one.

http://crfg.org/pubs/ff/pawpaw.html

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

One of my labs did eat a Buckeye once when my pre-school kids brought home a little project.  I called poison control.  Once nut is not too bad--not good-but not bad. 

Ann said her dogs know better.  Of course, they are smart dogs.