About 8 years ago, 7 Buckeye seedlings were planted on the north slope of Billy Goat Hill. In addition to being beautiful trees that belong in coastal pastureland like BGH, they also help control erosion with their root system. I admit that Buckeyes are my favorite deciduous tree! Here are some facts that I gathered from various websites, mostly Cal Academy of Sciences:
Cal Buckeyes had multiple cultural uses among California Indian tribes. Many indigenous groups utilized buckeye seeds for food, often when other plant food sources were scarce. These tribes included the Costanoan, Salinan, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Wappo, Sierra Miwok, Coast Miwok, Chumash, Kawaiisu, Northern Maidu, Pomo among others. The seeds are poisonous to humans in the raw state. The bark, leaves, and fruits contain the neurotoxics glycoside aesculin, which causes hemolysis of red blood cells. Thus, the nuts were cracked open with a rock, the shells removed, the seeds pounded into flour, and their toxic saponins removed in a lengthy leaching process. The meal was subsequently cooked and eaten. The seeds have medicinal properties and were cut into pieces, mixed with water, and made into suppositories for hemorrhoids by the Costanoan and Kawaiisu. The Pomo cut bark from the base of the tree and made a poultice, which was laid on a snakebite. Young buckeye shoots were sometimes used as spindles or twirling sticks in fire-making kits of the Sierra Miwok, Northern Maidu, Wappo, Yahi and other tribes. Many tribes mashed buckeye nuts and poured the contents into quiet pools to stupefy or kill fish.
Bees – NoNo! Butterflies Hummingbirds – YesYes! The nectar of the buckeye flowers is also toxic, and it can kill honeybees. However, Azure butterflies (Celastrina ladon echo, aka Echo Blue) can often be seen all over a tree-- buckeye flower buds and flowers are its caterpillar cuisine! Buckeyes are a great butterfly nectar plant, being so large and flowering in a season of butterfly abundance. Hummingbirds also visit buckeye flowers.
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