American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis · Platanaceae (Plane-tree family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Palmate-lobed with 3 to 5 distinct, shallow to medium lobes and triangular outlines
Margin
Coarsely serrate or dentate with occasional smaller teeth along the lobe margins
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig
Venation
Palmate venation with primary veins radiating from the base, featuring a prominent central midrib and strong secondary veins
Key Features
Distinguished by its massive size, camouflage-like peeling bark, large palmate maple-like leaves with hollow petioles covering the bud, and dangling spherical fruit clusters (buttonballs)
Description
The American Sycamore is a massive, fast-growing deciduous tree easily recognized by its distinctive mottled, exfoliating bark that peels off in large sheets to reveal greenish-white and gray inner layers. It produces spherical fruit clusters known as buttonballs that persist through winter.
Habitat
Typically found along streambanks, river floodplains, wet bottomlands, and moist alluvial soils in full sun
Native Range
Native to the eastern and central United States and northeastern Mexico