Description of the Sycamore Tree

A paved path runs through a grove of Sycamore trees.

The majestic sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is one of the more common deciduous trees of the eastern woodlands. Also called the buttonwood tree, the sycamore is sometimes grown as an ornamental, especially on wet sites, where a row of these fast-growing plants can help alleviate the wet conditions. With a range that extends from southern Maine and northern Florida westward to the edge of the Great Plains, the sycamore is well-known to residents of the eastern United States.

Physical Features

Since the sycamore prefers moist bottom lands along streams and rivers, the tree is able to absorb much moisture, which flows upward into the main part off the tree, producing a wide, leafy crown and a rapid growth rate. When growing conditions are right, sycamores can reach a massive size. Heights of over 100 feet are possible, as are diameters that exceed 10 feet. The largest trees and most extensive sycamore groves usually occur along the Mississippi River and Ohio Valley.

Flowers

The cottonwood is a monoecious plant, which means it has separate male and female flowers on the same tree. These flowers bloom in the spring when they form inconspicuous spikelets of green flowers. At that time, a large amount of pollen is released from the male flowers and scattered by air currents. Eventually, some of the genetic material will find a female receptacle and begin the process of fertilization.

Seeds

The seeds are small, thin achenes with a hard seed coat that conglomerate in large distinctive balls. These are the "buttonballs" that form in the fall and remain on the tree all winter. The numerous balls are suspended at the end of long stems, which give the tree a distinctive look during the winter season. In the spring, the ball breaks apart, releasing the seeds, which quickly become airborne because of the long thin fibers that are attached to each seed.

Bark

The most distinctive feature of the sycamore is the white, splotchy bark that gives the tree a camouflage appearance. Besides its light color, the bark has a scaly texture, which makes the sycamore stand out and sometimes appear dead, especially during the winter when the tree looses its leaves. However, the bark and tree are probably very much alive--all these characteristics are signs of a healthy tree.

Fall Foliage

During the growing season, the leaves of the sycamore grow extremely large and provide a dense canopy for the ground surrounding the tree. The leaf, which can be over a foot wide, is shaped very much like the maple leaf. In the fall, the sycamore foliage turns anywhere from a golden yellow to a burnt red.

References

• East Tennessee State University: Sycamore tree
• Western North Carolina Nature Center: Sycamore
• Great Plains Nature Center: The Sycamore