Tree Identification. Leaf. Horse Chestnut. Aesculus Hippocastanum Stock Photography

The leaves of the horse chestnut are palmately compound with either five or seven leaflets spreading like fingers. Each individual leaflet is saw-toothed and elliptical in shape, tapering to a petiole-less base (a petiole is the stalk that attaches the leaflets to the leaf--petiole is to leaflet as petiole is to leaf). The leaves are light green when they first start to grow, but as they reach maturity, they become darker on top and remain lighter on the underside. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow (Little 1980).