The Buckeye
The
tree species Aesculus glabra is commonly known as Ohio
buckeye, American buckeye, fetid buckeye, or stinking buck-eye. It
derives its unflattering common names from the disagreeable odor
generated when the leaves are crushed. It is native to eastern North
America, from Pennsylvania, west through Ohio to southeast Nebraska,
and south to northeast Texas and northern Georgia; it is also native
locally in the extreme southwest of Ontario, on Walpole Island in
Lake St. Clair. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 15-25
m tall.
The Ohio buckeye is the state tree of Ohio and an original term of endearment for the pioneers on the Ohio frontier, with specific association with William Henry Harrison. Subsequently, the word was used as the nickname of the Ohio State University sports teams and came to be applied to any graduate of the university.
The
buckeye got its name when Native Americans noticed the nuts'
resemblance to a buck's eye.
The buckeye confection, made to resemble the tree's nut, is made by dipping a dollop of peanut butter fudge in milk chocolate, leaving a circle of the peanut butter exposed. These are a popular treat in Ohio, especially during the Christmas and NCAA college football seasons.
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