Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore)

Platanus occidentalis L.

Platanus occidentalis L. var. glabrata (Fernald) Sarg.

American sycamore, sycamore

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
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

About plant names...

American sycamore is native to the eastern North America.

Identification: 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 are 4-9" (10-22 cm) in size, somewhat resembling maple leaves, with 3-5 lobes. Male (staminate) flowers are dark red, while female (pistillate) flowers are light green tinged with red. Both 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.

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California
≈ 3 × 4" (8.5 × 10 cm)

These “sycamores” are not related.

	*Acer pseudoplatanus*	You are here Platanus occidentalis
Common Name	sycamore maple	American sycamore
Plant	66-115' (20-35 m) high, with a broad crown, oval to rounded in shape.	98-131' (30-40 m) high, up to 6½' (2 m) in diameter.
Flowers	Yellowish green, in May.	Male flowers are dark red, while female flowers are light green tinged with red. Both are ball-shaped.
Leaves	Five-lobed, with serrated edges, 4-10" (10-25 cm) in size.	4-9" (10-22 cm) in size, somewhat resembling maple leaves, with 3-5 lobes.
Stem	Depending on age, may be smooth and gray or covered with large peeling scales that reveal several colors of inner bark.	*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.
Seeds	Samaras are 1¼-2" (3.2-5 cm).
Fruit		Bumpy brown balls about 1" (2.5 cm) around, on stems up to 3" (7.6 cm) long. Bumps separate into airborne seeds after drying.
Range/ Zones
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Platanus occidentalis at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Platanus occidentalis on Wikipedia

Platanus occidentalis on the USDA Plants Database

Platanus occidentalis at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Platanus occidentalis at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Platanus occidentalis at the USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

Platanus occidentalis at the Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

Platanus occidentalis on eFloras

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 102

4/6/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Sparks, Maryland
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 21 × 16" (52 × 41 cm)

6/10/2018
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 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
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm) ID is uncertain

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 21" (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
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm)

12/12/2020 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

Platanus occidentalis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Jul 2020.

11/30/2014 · James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 4 × 6' (1.2 × 1.8 m)

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

7/23/2017 · Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania
≈ 19 × 14" (47 × 34 cm)

7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

3/16/2010
≈ 5 × 6½' (1.6 × 2.0 m)

11/8/2015
≈ 28 × 19" (71 × 47 cm)

11/30/2014 · James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 4½ × 7' (1.4 × 2.1 m)

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California
≈ 4 × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 19 × 14" (47 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

12/12/2020 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm) ID is uncertain

12/12/2020 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 1¾ × 1¾" (4.7 × 4.5 cm)

Range:

About this map...