Plantanus occidentalis L.

Classification Kingdon: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Superdivision: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Hamamelidalae Order: Hamamelidales Family: Platanaceae Genus: Platanus L. Species: Platanus occidentalis

Shape, Form, Type Sycamore trees are very large and massive with huge branches. They can reach up to one hundred feet in height. Figure 1

Bark Bark on Sycamores is thin and can be brown, green, white, or tan. It exfoliates readily and becomes scaly and gray as it ages. Figure 2

Twig Twigs are an orange-brown, short and wide, and crooked. The stipule scar surrounds the twig. Figure 3

Leaf Leaves alternate on the twigs, are simple, and have palmate veins. They have three to five lobes and are generally four to eight inches wide. The margins of the lobes are coarsely toothed. Figure 4

Bud Figure 6 The buds of sycamore trees are surrounded by the leaf scars. Lateral buds are a reddish color and are resinous. Terminal buds are not present.

Flower Flowers look like dense, round clusters of pollen and are monoecious and imperfect. They are usually a single cluster around many leaves. Figure 6

Fruit The fruit of sycamores are spherical-shaped with a three to six inch stalk. Seeds are winged and mature in November and disseminate in late winter. Figure 7

Habitat and Range Sycamores are generally found in the eastern half of the United States and east Canada. They usually grow along rivers or streams where the soil is moist and rich. Figure 8

Uses Sycamores are widely planted as shade trees, especially because they are durable in urban areas. Figure 10

References Figure References: Figures 1-4, 6,7: Plantanus occidentalis Fact Sheet. (2010). Retrieved June 23, 2010 from Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech: ​ dendro/ ​ dendrology/ ​ syllabus/ ​ factsheet.cfm?id=36. Figure 5: Hackney, P., Tyrie, C., McGivern, F., & McCrory, F. (2001). Image Sycamore Flower. Retrieved June 23, 2010 from National Museum of Northern Ireland, The Garden Flora of Northern Ireland: ​ gardenflora/ ​ images/ ​ sycamore_flower1.jpg. Figure 8: Platanus occidentalis. (2010). Retrieved June 23, 2010 from United States Department of Agriculture, Plants Profile: ​ java/ ​ profile?symbol=ploc. Informational References: Platanus occidentalis. (2010). Retrieved June 23, 2010 from United States Department of Agriculture, Plants Profile: ​ java/ ​ profile?symbol=ploc. Plantanus occidentalis Fact Sheet. (2010). Retrieved June 23, 2010 from Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech: ​ dendro/ ​ dendrology/ ​ syllabus/ ​ factsheet.cfm?id=36.