- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Hamamelidales
- Family: Platanaceae
- Genus: Platanus
- Species: P. occidentalis
Platanus occidentalis
| American sycamore |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial Name |
Platanus occidentalis |
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They are 30-50 feet tall. They are usually 1.5-3 meters in diameter. [1] The leafs are 4-8 inches wide [2].
The bark of the sycamore tree exhibits the following colors, molted brown green, tan and white [3]. Older branches exhibit grays and brown [4]. The bark’s color scheme makes it appear as if it was camouflaged, in the woods [5].
The leafs on a sycamore tree are as followed, Alternate, very simple, they are 4-8 inches wide, The whole leaf is ovate in shape, there are three to five lobes that are coarsely toothed. The petiole bases encircle and completely cover the buds. The veins may be pubescent and palmate. [6]
The twigs are stout brown orange in color, leaf scar surrounds the bud and the stipule scar surrounds the twig. There is no terminal bud. The Lateral orientated buds are resinous, reddish with a single scale that is cap shaped. [7]
Sycamores release their seeds through February to May [8]. Even though sycamores start producing seeds after 6 years, the apex of there seed production doesn’t start until the tree is 50 – 200 years old [9]. The number of seeds averages out to about 200,000 lbs per tree [10]. Germination it effected in part by light[11]. Study’s show that the seeds need direct light to survive [12].
The Flower is Montecito’s, and imperfect [13]. But the male and female flowers are very small and appear in dense round clusters with about one cluster per flowering stalk [14].
Sycamores release their seeds through February to May [15]. Even though sycamores start producing seeds after 6 years, the apex of there seed production doesn’t start until the tree is 50 – 200 years old [16]. The number of seeds averages out to about 200,000 lbs per tree [17]. Germination it effected in part by light[18]. Study’s show that the seeds need direct light to survive [19].
The American sycamore plays a vital role in the environment.
The normal temperatures of its climate range form 4-21 degree Celsius [20]. The normal precipitation it prefers is 30 to 80in [21].
There is a plethora of insects that feast upon the American sycamore [22]. These insects do not defeat the vicariously healthy trees, but will often destroy those of diminished vigor [23]. The sycamore lacebug, the Flathead sycamore heartwood borer and the sycamore tussock moth are the primary insects that attack the American sycamore. But you may also find that leaf hoppers and leaf feeders along with cicada, scales, and aphids. In continuation various beetles, moths, and caterpillars also dine upon the American sycamore [24].
The American sycamores are ravaged by disease. Cases of leaf scorch, top dieback, and lethal cankers ripped through plantations in Illinois and the surrounding states [25].
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