Natural History

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis, Plane Tree family (Platanaceae)

Leaves:
Leaves are large; broadly ovate with 3 to 5 short lobes. Lobes are coarsely toothed

Bark: 
Bark is smooth and white or brown and flaky.  Mature bark peels off in irregularly shaped patches.

Flowers:
Flowers are in tight round clusters. Male and female flowers are separate but on same tree (monoecious). Flowers are wind-pollinated.

Fruit:
Fruit aggregates into a ball of seeds, 1 to 2 inches in diameter.  The ball contains several hundred seeds. Bristles are attached to the base of each seed.  Seeds are wind dispersed. Fruits mature in autumn and separate in winter.

Habitat:
Sycamore occurs in rich floodplains of creeks and rivers. Sycamore also invades old fields, strip mines, and quarries. Sycamores are planted as an ornamental tree in parks and yards.

Diseases:
Sycamore is susceptible to anthracnose blight disease, caused by a fungus. Leaves turn black and die. Trees are most susceptible during cool wet springs. Trees will grow a new set of leaves if the first set of leaves is affected by the blight.

 Sycamore trees have distinctive white
trunks. (photo source #5)