Jewish student conkers the record books!
Eight-year-old Evie Jacobs finds Horse Chestnut tree husk capsule with an amazing five conkers inside
Ecologists were left agog this week after an eight year old Jewish student at Wolfson Hillel Primary School in Southgate found a Horse Chestnut tree husk capsule containing an incredible five conkers.
Evie Jacobs, who lives in Borehamwood with her parents and Yavneh student sister Abigail, was searching for a rare triple husk containing three conkers when she stumbled across one three times the normal size.
“The most I have ever seen is three,” said botanist Dr Fred Rumsey, senior curator in charge of historical collections at the Natural History Museum.
“In this family the ovary is three-celled with only one ovule per cell, so you would expect, at the most, there to be three conkers. Usually only one develops. So there must be developmental abnormality here, perhaps the fusing of two flowers.”
News of Evie’s find has even reached British Columbia in Canada, where noted botanist Linda Crampton, who has made a study of the Horse Chestnut tree, said that she has never heard of such a specimen before.
Dr Darren Evans and Dr Michal Pocock, co-authors of Conker Tree Science at the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Newcastle University, have confirmed the highly unusual nature of the find.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
- Dr Fred Rumsey
- Wolfson Hillel Primary School
- Southgate
- Yavneh
- Education
- schools
- Natural History Museum
- British Columbi
- Linda Crampton
- Ecologists
- Dr Michal Pocock
- Dr Darren Evans
- Conker Tree Science
- the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Newcastle University
- the Centre for Ecology and Conservation
- Newcastle University
