Monday, July 5, 2004

American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

American sycamore can attain the largest trunk diameter of any of the Eastern U.S. hardwoods. The native sycamore has a grand branch display and its bark is unique among all trees - you can always identify a sycamore just by looking at the bark. The outer bark peels off in thin flakes leaving a cream colored inner bark. The alternate maple-looking leaves are large and also unique to those familiar with sycamore.

They sure do put down lots of debris on a lawn, but nevertheless I welcome them whether they be the ones at my neighbor across Park Lane looking toward the river or the stately one in the center of the Rockerfeller Preserve near Tarrytown, NY. Then too, there is the grandfather of them all in the Shank's back yard. I remember that one most for the rope swing that hung from its massive branch. And the pictures I took of the kids playing there over a quarter of a century ago.

Mostly it is the appeal of the design, either of the bark that peels off or the pattern remaining on the trunk.

jim