| Acer pseudoplatanus | |
|---|---|
| Sycamore Maple leaves | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae[1] |
| Genus: | Acer |
| Species: | A. pseudoplatanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Acer pseudoplatanus L. |
|
Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, is a species of maple native to central Europe and southwestern Asia, from France east to Ukraine, and south in mountains to northern Spain, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus.[2][3] It is not related to other trees called sycamore or plane tree in the Platanus genus. Its apparent similarity to the species of that genus led to its being named pseudoplatanus, using the prefix pseudo- (from the Ancient Greek for "false").
Other common names for the tree include false plane-tree,[4] great maple,[4] Scottish maple,[4] mock-plane,[5][6] sycamore,[4][6] or celtic maple.
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It is a large deciduous tree that reaches 20–35 m tall at maturity, with a broad, domed crown. On young trees, the bark is smooth and grey but becomes rougher with age and breaks up in scales, exposing the pale-brown-to-pinkish inner bark. The leaves are opposite, large, 10–25 cm long and broad with a 5–15 cm petiole, with leathery texture, palmately veined with thick veins protruding on the underside surface, with five lobes with toothed edges, and dark green in colour with whitish underside; some cultivars have purple-tinged or yellowish leaves. The leaves are often marked with black spots or patches which are caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum.[7] The monoecious yellow-green flowers are produced in spring on 10–20 cm pendulous racemes, with 20–50 flowers on each stalk. The 5–10 mm diameter seeds are paired in samaras, each seed with a 20–40 mm long wing to catch the wind and rotate when they fall; this helps them to spread further from the parent tree. The seeds are mature in autumn about 6 months after pollination.[3][8]
The sycamore is able to produce suckers from roots when they are exposed to sunlight after the mature tree has fallen.
A number of species of Lepidoptera use the leaves as a food source; see Lepidoptera that feed on maples.
The name "sycamore" originally belongs to the fig species Ficus sycomorus native to southwest Asia (this is the sycamore or sycomore referred to in the Bible). The name was later applied to this species (and others; see also Platanus) by reason of the superficial similarity in leaf shape.
It is noted for its tolerance of wind, urban pollution and salt spray, which makes it a popular tree for planting in cities, along roads treated with salt in winter, and in coastal localities. It is cultivated and widely naturalised north of its native range in northern Europe, notably in the British Isles and Scandinavia north to Tromsø, Norway (can ripen seeds north to Vesterålen); Reykjavík, Iceland; and Torshavn on the Faroe Islands. It now occurs throughout the British Isles, having been introduced in the 17th century.[9]
In North America, escapes from cultivation are most common in New England, New York City and the Pacific Northwest. It is planted in many temperate parts of the Southern Hemisphere, most commonly in New Zealand and on the Falkland Islands.
The popular cultivar 'Brilliantissimum' is notable for the bright salmon-pink colour of the young foliage.
It is planted for timber production; the wood is white with a silky lustre, and hard-wearing, used for musical instrument making, furniture, wood flooring and parquetry. Occasional trees produce wood with a wavy grain, greatly increasing the value for decorative veneers. The wood is a medium weight for a hardwood, weighing 630 kg per cubic metre.[10] It is a traditional wood for use in making the backs, necks and scrolls of violins. The wood is often marketed as rippled sycamore.[11] Its uses are mainly indoor due to its perishability when in contact with soil.[10]
The flowers produce abundant nectar, which makes a fragrant, delicately flavoured and pale-coloured honey.
It is also used as a species for medium to large Bonsai, in many areas of Europe where some fine specimens can be found.[12]
It is considered an environmental weed in some parts of Australia (Yarra Ranges, Victoria),[13] New Zealand[14] and Norway.[15]
As in a number of other species, on wet ground the rocking movement of a tree in high winds may result in the oscillatory movements of water within pools formed from groundwater at the base of such trees. Water moves up and down with this back and forth movement of the tree, resulting in water rising up and withdrawing, often expelling liquified soil and creating cavities amongst the roots. These features are known as oscillants.[16]
Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have nursed her sick husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, back to health under this Plane (Plane is the Scottish name for the species) tree at Darnley in Glasgow. Queen Mary came to Glasgow early in 1567, having left Holyrood Place in Edinburgh on 24 January to collect her husband.
Darnley had reportedly contracted small-pox and the Queen intended to bring him back to Holyrood on a litter as he was too weak to ride a horse. Darnley returned with his wife, only to be murdered a few days later on 10 February.[17]