Buckeye trees are getting ready for football season as well. And by the look of these thick bristled husks, it appears that they will open and our buckeye nuts will drop in plenty of time for Ohio State’s first coin flip on Sept. 5.
Commonly referred to as nuts, like the acorns of our oaks, botanically speaking, buckeyes are actually seeds. They are distinctive, large, shiny dark brown seeds with a cream-colored spot. That spot, it’s said, gives the seed the appearance of a buck’s eye.
Buckeyes aren’t edible. They’re toxic for humans, pets, and most wildlife.
Look for buckeye trees in bottomlands along our rivers and streams where they’re among the first to get their leaves in spring and to change color in fall. Those attractive buckeye seeds float, which means they can be carried downstream and take root in new locations.
