CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY TREE STUDY KIT
BUCKEYE
Background for parent/teacher:
- Buckeyes are the first trees to lose their leaves.
They lose them at the end of summer, August or early September.
They are also the first deciduous trees to get their new leaves in February.
- Native Americans used buckeyes to stun fish in streams (like they used soaproot)
- Native Americans only ate buckeyes in times of famine because of the elaborate
procedure needed to get the poison out.
- Mice and other animals eat buckeyes.
- Edible mushrooms growing under buckeye may be toxic to humans.
They absorb poison from the buckeye.
- Honeybees cannot go to buckeye flowers because they are toxic.
Song to the tune of Frere Jaques
Teacher/Parent: Hello, buckeye tree!
Students: Hello, buckeye tree!
Teacher/Parent: I know you!
Students: I know you!
Teacher/Parent: Five leaflets like five fingers.
Students: Five leaflets like five fingers.
Teacher/Parent: Buckeyes in the fall.
Students: Buckeyes in the fall.
Leaf and Fruit 3/4 actual size