SYCAMORE
Platanus occidentalis, L.
Form.—Height 100-150 feet, diameter 4-10 feet; trunk massive, usually short, often inclined; crown open, irregular, of large limbs and irregular branches.
Leaves.—Alternate, simple, broadly oval, 4-10 inches long, 3-5-sinuate lobed, the short lobes sharp-pointed, bright green above, pale and somewhat pubescent or woolly beneath.
Flowers.—May; monoecious; the staminate dark red on short axillary stalks, the pistillate greenish on long, slender terminal stalks.
Fruit.—October, persisting through the winter, in brown heads about 1 inch in diameter and suspended on long slender stalks. The chaffy achenes which compose the head are about ¾ of an inch long.
Bark.—Covered with broad curling scales which are shed off exposing the smooth greenish-white surface beneath.
Wood.—Heavy, hard, difficult to split, reddish-brown with light sapwood.
Range.—Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.
Distribution in West Virginia.—Common throughout the State along streams below 3,000 feet elevation.
Habitat.—Moist soil of stream borders.
Notes.—The wood of Sycamore is considered valuable for interior finish, furniture, crates and tobacco boxes. Its growth should be encouraged whenever possible both as a forest and shade tree.