Platanus occidentalis L.

American Sycamore; Plane Tree; Buttonwood

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

American Sycamore is a large native deciduous tree in the Plane-Tree family (Platanaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. American Sycamore grows along rivers and streams, around lakes and ponds, and in bottomland forests. It is one of the largest of the trees in eastern North America, reaching heights exceeding 150 feet and diameters of 6 feet or more. American Sycamore typically has a single trunk, but can form multitrunked clumps. The bark is thin, light gray in color, and peels in large papery sheets. The trunks contain a patchwork of older and younger bark ranging from green through white to brown in color. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate in outline, and 3-7 lobed. The margins are entire to coarsely serrate. The leaf surface is pubescent, becoming glabrate with persistent hairs along the veins. The base of the petiole is enlarged and encloses a bud. Stipules are large and have toothed margins. Leaves turn brownish-yellow before falling. Flowers are produced in dense heads. Staminate heads are produced on axillary peduncles and pistillate heads are produced on terminal peduncles. The heads are reddish in color. The fruit is a dense ball of achenes. The achenes separate over the winter and each individual achene has a tuff of tan hairs. The seed are consumed by many bird and small mammal species. American Sycamore is fast growing and is often used as a street or shade tree. The wood is dense but brittle. It is used for paper, inexpensive furniture, pallets, and butcher’s blocks. American Sycamore is tolerant of pollution and is often planted in cities. It is available from many nurseries, and various cultivars are available. It prefers a moist, loamy soil in full sun. The tree trunks should be protected from damage from mowers or weed eaters. Sycamore anthracnose is an introduced fungal disease that can cause significant damage the foliage, causing premature leaf drop. Powdery mildew may also infect the leaves, leaving them unsightly. Neither disease

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Native FACW- (NWPL)

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