American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Hamamelidales>Platanaceae>Platanus occidentalis L.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) leaves

American Sycamore is a large tree of wet areas, especially common along streams and rivers. The leaves are large and palmately lobed.

The petiole bases are unusual - they completely enclose the bud.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) stipules

The large, toothed, leaf-like stipules can persist into the fall.

Chapel Hill, NC 9/23/03.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) fruit

Ripening fruit.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) fruits

The ball-shaped fruit clusters contain thousands of tiny winged seeds (achenes).

Chatham Co., NC 3/17/06.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Young tree.

Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 1/4/09

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) bark

The bark is very distinctive, peeling off in large flakes to reveal a mottled pattern of white and green-gray.

Greenville, NC 11/6/05.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) bark

The higher branches are nearly white; the lower down on the tree, the more dark bark flakes.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) bark

Near the base of a medium-sized tree.

Greenville, NC 11/6/05.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) bark

Durham Co., NC 4/11/09.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) bark

Durham Co., NC 4/5/2014.