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London Planetree
Platanus × acerifolia
40.6501, -73.9496
Field Notes
Description:
Description: The London Plane tree is large deciduous growing to twenty - forty meters tall with a trunk that could go to 3m or more in circumference. It also has a spread of 65 to 80 feet at its maturity. It is a hybrid sycamore resulting from crosses of American sycamore and oriental sycamore. The bark is usually pale grey-green and smooth with brown, green, and gray patches. The leaves are broad, maple like and medium to dark green that turns yellow in the fall. Its flowers are red.
Habitat:
Habitat: The London plane is extremely tolerant of atmospheric pollution, winter and root compaction, and for this reason it is a popular urban roadside tree and is commonly planted in cities throughout the temperate regions of the world, such as New York City, Paris, Chicago, Sydney, and London, hence it’s name. This particular tree was found in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY.
Notes:
Trophic Level: Producer
Diet/Growth Needs: It grows in full sun exposure and slight shade in sandy, loamy, and clay soil. It grows in wet to moist soil.
Reproduction: The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes are found on the same plant) and are pollinated by wind. The plant is self-fertile. The fruit is borne in 2’s and 3’s that mature in about 6 months. They are fuzzy balls with long, sticking out hairs. The fruit changes from green to brown in October. It falls off the tree and breaks down slowly over the winter to release numerous of tiny seeds.
Adaptions
Deciduous Tree Trait
During winter (in cold climates) or the dry season (in warmer climates) it becomes difficult for the tree to maintain its water balance as there is less free water available in the soil. Instead of remaining actively growing during this time of the year, the tree enters a dormant period. It allows its leaves to die after taking away valuable nutrients from the leaves for use in the next growing season.
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