American sycamore

Scientific name:  Platanus occidentalis

Estimated tree age: 187 years old

The American sycamore is one of the most massive trees in our part of the world, notably the girth of its trunk, which can grow over six feet in diameter. Typically, the trunk of the tree divides into secondary trunks close to the ground. Another defining feature of the tree is that, as its trunk grows ever wider, the bark is too rigid to grow along with wood beneath and splinters into brittle pieces. If large enough, hollow sycamores can house black bears, but otherwise the tree generally is home to bats, owls, and wood ducks. Beyond the United States, the tree thrives in Argentina and is widespread in Australia.

Photo from Grandview Heights TreePlotter.

Despite its species name “occidentalis”, which means “western”, this tree is sometimes known as the eastern sycamore due to its growth in the Eastern United States.  Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, gave the tree its scientific name because the only other tree in its genus (Platanus) at the time was “orientalis”, which means “eastern”.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?

The fruit of the American sycamore is a small, fuzzy round pods that contain hundreds of compacted seeds that spread upon opening.

 

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?

 The largest American sycamore measured 174 feet tall and 13 feet in diameter.