Is this fruit edible, please?

For heaven’s sake oldgoat, pick one whack it open and tell us what’s inside. No matter if it’s not ripe. The suspense is unbearable ?

It is Indian horse chestnut, Aesculus Indica. Not edible.

Perhaps Oldgoat has sampled it which is why there's no answer

It's a Buckeye Tree
Of the genus Aesculus, which includes Horse Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut,
Of the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family which includes lychees, rambutans etc.

I asked a tree expert.

I think it could be Aesculus hybridus which is a hybrid chestnut. Ive seen it at Waterperry Gardens near Oxford. All the appearances of a Horse Chestnut in terms of leaves etc but the fruits do not have prickles.

Looks like a medlar to me. If so, you can make jelly with them.

Definitely not a medlar. Different shape of fruit altogether. We grow medlars in our garden, and had the plants from a trusted specialist supplier of fruit trees.

How about contacting Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time programme, and sending them the picture?

Looks like a conker to me.

Conker / horse chestnut

Callistemon

It's a Buckeye Tree
Of the genus Aesculus, which includes Horse Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut,
Of the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family which includes lychees, rambutans etc.

If correct, and having compared photos it looks like it to me, then the fruits are poisonous to cattle and humans. They contain tannic acid.

Yes, they are.

oldgoat we hope you post again today soon!

I think you will just find they are horse chestnuts and definitely not edible.

looks like beech.

We used to live in a house with a large walnut tree, and although most years it produced a good crop thanks to the squirrels we barely had a look in. Anyone who hasn’t tried fresh walnuts, Waitrose sell them usually towards to end of September, they’re called wet walnuts and are delicious. They look a bit grubby. Be sure to peel the bitter skin off the actual nut. Worth the effort!

Looks like a conker to me.

Conkers are sometimes smooth and brown.

Morning all.

I'm still in the land of the living, having resisted the urge to sample the mystery fruit.

I've consulted a local 'expert who assures me that it's a........

(pregnant pause to build up the tension)

red flowered horse chestnut. Not edible.

Thanks for all your interesting suggestions.

Off to do a bit more foraging now that the rain has stopped.

Yay! Mystery solved. Go safe foraging oldgoat.

Usually, the outer skin on walnut casings is green.

Assume this fruit is poisonous, unless and until you can find a botanist to tell you what it is.

Don't look like hazelnuts or walnuts. I have both in my garden and could forward photos for comparison if only the dratted squirrels hadn't got there first.

They look more like horse chestnuts to me!

According to my plant app it's definitely an unripe horse chestnut (conker).

I’ve looked it up with my ‘picture this’ plant identifying app.
It says it’s a horse chestnut, Conker tree. It also says “ your plant appears to be rotting, inspect and treat immediately!”
Poisonous to humans and livestock apparently.

For the amusement of those who say conkers are poisonous, many years ago, my sister, then aged about 2, was found eating several conkers. She appeared to be enjoying them, and strenuously objected when our mother removed them from her and made her spit out what was left in her mouth! She is still around nearly 70 years later to tell the tale.