Conkers are the glossy brown seeds of the horse chestnut tree, encased in a spiky green shell. They are well known in Great Britain and Ireland as part of a traditional children's game called "conkers." In the game, each player threads a conker onto a string and takes turns striking their opponent's conker until one breaks, with the surviving conker deemed the winner.
The horse chestnut tree, scientifically known as Aesculus hippocastanum, produces these seeds usually in early autumn. Although conkers look similar to sweet chestnuts, they are not edible and are different species entirely.
Besides their use in the game, conkers have some historical and folk uses, such as being used for their anti-inflammatory properties, for warding off moths, and even as a natural soap due to the presence of saponins.
In summary, conkers are both the seeds of the horse chestnut tree and the name of a traditional game played with these seeds. They are not edible but have cultural and practical significance in parts of the UK and Ireland.
