Is a sycamore the same as a plane tree?

Asked by: Daniel Martinez

The sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), often called sycamore, plane, or mock plane, is distinct (see maple). The American plane tree, or sycamore (P. occidentalis), also known as buttonwood, buttonball, or whitewood, is the tallest, sometimes reaching a height of more than 50 m (160 feet).

How can you tell the difference between a sycamore and London plane tree?

Look cut in there between the lobes on the leaves. So this is one of the differences between them. And then the other difference is with a sycamore it produces a seed ball.

Is London plane tree a sycamore?

Meet the London Plane Tree



In fact, the sycamore is one of the “parents” of the London plane tree, a hybrid resulting in a cross between the sycamore and the oriental plant tree (Platanus orientalis). The London plane tree hybrid is thought to have occurred in the 1600s.

Are London plane and sycamore the same?

– What is the difference between sycamore and London planetree? A1. – Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is the American planetree, while London planetree (Platanus xacerifolia) is a hybrid with the Oriental planetree (Platanus orientalis).

What is another name for the sycamore tree?

The sycamore maple, or mock plane (Acer pseudoplatanus), is sometimes also called, simply, sycamore.

How can you tell a sycamore from a plane tree?

London plane-tree may be distinguished from the closely related American sycamore by the number of fruit clusters, and the bark. London plane-tree typically bears its round fruit clusters in groups of 2, while American sycamore usually bears solitary fruit clusters.

How do you identify a plane tree?

The easiest way to identify a London plane tree is to look at the bark and leaf shape. The planetree has a distinctive mottled bark with a gray, white, yellow, and brown camouflage-style pattern. Large maple-like leaves with pointed margins are the other identifying feature of a London plane tree.

Why is it called a London plane tree?

A real city slicker, the London plane is the capital’s most common tree. As a hybrid of American sycamore and Oriental plane, it was first discovered in the 17th century then widely planted in the 18th. The London plane is thought to be a cross between the Oriental plane and the American sycamore.

What does a London plane tree look like?

Develops a mottled bark with red-brown scales that flake to reveal green, white and creamy yellow. Features large leaves up to 7″ long and 10″ wide that are sparingly toothed along the edges. They somewhat resemble the leaves of black, sugar and red maples.

What is special about a sycamore tree?

The most striking feature of the tree is the bark that has a camouflage pattern comprised of gray-brown outer bark that peels off in patches to reveal the light gray or white wood beneath. Older trees often have solid, light gray trunks. Sycamores also go by the names buttonwood or buttonball trees.

What’s a sycamore tree look like?

Sycamore trees have large, light-green leaves that resemble maple leaves in shape. They are alternate, simple and palmate with coarse teeth. The undersides of new leaves are coated with coarse, white hair. In the fall, sycamore leaves turn yellow or brown.

Is maple the same as sycamore?

The Sycamore is a member of the maple family, known formally as the Aceraceae. (The Latin genus name Acer means sharp, and is a reference not to the form of the tree itself but to its timber. Wood from maple trees, including sycamores, was used for making spears.)

Is a field maple a sycamore?

How to identify. Field maple has dark green, five-lobed leaves, which are smaller and have more rounded lobes than those of Sycamore; they turn golden in autumn. Its small, yellow-green, cupped flowers turn to large, winged fruits when pollinated. The bark of Field maple becomes corky with age.

What does a sycamore maple look like?

Sycamore has a characteristic leafy shape similar to that of Norway maple, but the sycamore leaves are rounded. The leaves have long, reddish colored stems, which are usually five-lobed, with the front three lobes are about the same size. Often the two lower lobes are not fully formed.

Is sweet gum a sycamore?

Similar to the American Sycamore, Sweetgum trees bear a round-shaped fruit. But the difference is, the Sweetgum fruit is round with a spiny, spiky surface, appearing to have thorns or spikes protruding from all around them. They are not rough and round like the American Sycamore tree. Instead, they are round and spiky.

Is Liquid Amber a sycamore?

The long-stemmed fruit balls of Liquidambar resemble those of the American sycamore or buttonwood (Platanus occidentalis), but are spiny and remain intact after their seeds are dispersed; the softer fruits of Platanus disintegrate upon seed dispersal.

What are those spiky balls that fall from trees?

Trees with Spiky Seed Pods



If you’ve encountered some round, spiny balls under a tree or maybe still on the plant, and you’re wondering what it could be, it’s likely one of several options: buckeye/horsechestnut (Aesculus), chestnut (Castanea), or sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua).

What are the balls on a sycamore tree?

So there you have it, those “spiky balls that fall from trees” are Sycamore balls, and are basically seed pods that can be used for a variety of wonderful things, from composting rich soils to accessorizing your patio. Be sure to see more outdoor decor and furniture accessories on our site!

Do sycamore trees drop anything?

Some sycamores develop multiple trunks. These trees are nicknamed “buttonball” trees because of the 1-inch balls that hang from the tree. These dry, hairy fruits hang in groups of 2-7 and encase small seeds. Their fruits will also drop in the fall.

Is sycamore a good burning wood?

Burning Sycamore



Sycamore firewood is easy to light, provided that it has been seasoned well. It is one of the best firewood species you can use when you’re starting a fire, as it produces a lot of heat.

Are sycamore trees male and female?

Sycamore is monoecious; both male and female flowers occurring on the same tree. The flower is not very showy and you may not even know it is there. Flowers appear in May.

What does a plane-tree leaf look like?

leaf: The leaves of the London plane tree are three-to five-lobed and up to 25 cm (9.8 in) broad. They are deep green and yellow in autumn. The leaf base is often straight.

What is the fruit of the sycamore tree called?

achenes

The fruits mature in a small, brown, burr-like ball that hangs from the branch. The ball is not a single fruit itself but instead an agregate of many small seed-like fruits called achenes with fuzzy hair-like structures attached. The balls are very light, and can float on water, which is useful in the dispersal.

Do birds like sycamore trees?

The American Sycamore is often used by cavity nesters, such as the Wood Duck and Barred Owl. This tree plays host to and attracts a sizeable list of insects and caterpillars (which will in turn attract insectivorous birds). Birds often like to perch in the many branches of the American Sycamore tree.

Should I cut down my sycamore tree?

You should cut down your sycamore tree if it is too large, attracting pests, growing fungi, or the tree is dying. Additionally, sycamore tree roots can span over 30 feet at full growth, potentially causing issues with your foundation, sewage system, and electrical writing.

Why do sycamore trees make you cough?

If you’re sensitized to maple sycamore trees and have asthma, tree pollen may trigger or worsen asthma symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing.