Platanus occidentalis L.
American sycamore, sycamore
American sycamore is native to the eastern North America.
Plants: Trees reach 98–131′ (30–40 m) and up to 6½′ (2 m) in diameter. Bark is mottled, with large irregular chunks like puzzle pieces that flake off, revealing differently colored bark beneath. Bark colors include tan, light gray, white, cream, and olive green. The unusual appearance of the bark is a prominent identifying feature.
Leaves: 4–9″ (10–22 cm) in size, somewhat resembling maple leaves, with 3-5 lobes.
Flowers: Male (staminate) flowers are dark red, while female (pistillate) flowers are light green tinged with red.
Fruits: Both flower types are ball-shaped, becoming brown balls of fruit about 1″ (2.5 cm) around, hanging on stems up to 3″ (7.6 cm) long, usually remaining through the winter. The balls are bumpy; each bump is a seed and parachute.
Habitats: Lowland areas, typically reaching its largest size along streams, rivers and flood plains.
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These “sycamores” are not related. |
Online References:
References:
Platanus occidentalis L. var. glabrata (Fernald) Sarg.
3/2/2011 
2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (11 × 10 cm) 
4/6/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Sparks, Maryland · ≈ 6 × 5″ (16 × 12 cm) 
10/31/2024 · Dr. Hoffert's Land, Selkirk, New York 
9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (50 × 41 cm) 
6/10/2018 · Virginia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
5/24/2026 · Mid-Lothian Mines Park, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 11 × 8″ (28 × 19 cm) 
8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 1¾ × 1¾″ (4.6 × 4.5 cm) 
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River 
4/8/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Monkton Rd, Sparks, Maryland · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm) 
6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm) 
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 2′ (41 × 62 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (34 × 52 cm) ID is uncertain 
3/17/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, End, Phoenix, Maryland 
3/19/2012 · Gunpowder Falls State Park, Cockeysville, Maryland · ≈ 1 × 2′ (41 × 62 cm) 
6/30/2023 · Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River 
6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC 
11/30/2014 · James River, Midlothian, Virginia 
Ball-shaped fruit splits into parachute-borne seeds · 4/8/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Monkton Rd, Sparks, Maryland · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River 
6/30/2023 · Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 
7/23/2017 · Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 34 cm) 
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River 
3/16/2010 
11/8/2015 · James River Park System, Virginia · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (71 × 47 cm) 
11/30/2014 · James River, Midlothian, Virginia 
2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California 
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River 
9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts 
10/31/2024 · Dr. Hoffert's Land, Selkirk, New York 
7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River 
3/2/2011 
8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.2 × 7.1 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Hamamelidae | Wind-pollinated shrubs |
| Order | Hamamelidales | Witch hazels and related plants |
| Family | Platanaceae | “Plane trees” such as American sycamore |
| Genus | Platanus | Plane tree |
| Species | occidentalis | North American and European in origin, though I think this species is found only in North America |
Platanus occidentalis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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