Acer pseudoplatanus, known as the sycamore in the British Isles and as the sycamore maple in the United States,[3] is a species of maple native to Central Europe and Western Asia. It is a large deciduous, broad-leaved tree, tolerant of wind and coastal exposure.
Although native to an area ranging from France eastward to Ukraine, northern Turkey and the Caucasus, and southward to the mountains of Italy and northern Iberia, the sycamore establishes itself easily from seed and was introduced to the British Isles by 1500. It is now naturalised there and in other parts of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, where it may become an invasive species.[4]
The sycamore can grow to a height of about 35 m (115 ft) and the branches form a broad, rounded crown. The bark is grey, smooth when young and later flaking in irregular patches. The leaves grow on long leafstalks and are large and palmate, with five large radiating lobes. The flowers are greenish-yellow and hang in dangling flowerheads called panicles. They produce copious amounts of pollen and nectar that are attractive to insects. The winged seeds or samaras are borne in pairs and twirl to the ground when ripe. They germinate freely in the following spring.
In its native range, the sycamore is associated with a biodiverse range of invertebrates and fungi, but these are not always present in areas to which it has been introduced. It is sometimes planted in urban areas for its value as an ornamental. It produces a hard-wearing, creamy-white close-grained timber that is used for making musical instruments, furniture, joinery, wood flooring and kitchen utensils. It also makes good firewood. The rising sap in spring has been used to extract sugar and make alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and can be processed into a syrup similar to that of the sugar maple. Bees often collect the nectar to make honey.
^Crowley, D.; Rivers, M.C.; Barstow, M. (2018) [errata version of 2017 assessment]. "Acer pseudoplatanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T193856A125923004. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T193856A2286517.en. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
^"Acer pseudoplatanus L.". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 May 2016 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Acer pseudoplatanus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
^"CABI Invasive species compendium: Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore)". Wallingford, UK: The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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Acerpseudoplatanus, known as the sycamore in the British Isles and as the sycamore maple in the United States, is a species of maple native to Central...
diverging wings,: 395 distinguishing them from those of sycamore, Acerpseudoplatanus which are at 90 degrees to each other. Norway maple seeds are flattened...
one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere. The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acerpseudoplatanus, the most common...
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Peninsula, Italy and North Macedonia. The larvae feed on Acer monspessulanum and Acerpseudoplatanus. They mine the leaves of their host plant. Fauna Europaea...
pubescens) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea), by sycamore maple (Acerpseudoplatanus), common bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), pedunculate oak (Q. robur)...
Church of Ireland. At Doonholm near Ayr an ancient sycamore maple (Acerpseudoplatanus) was famous for the multiple fusion of its boughs that gave it a...
Aeroplane Company. The name refers to the seeds of the sycamore tree, Acerpseudoplatanus, which fall with a rotating motion. It has the distinction of being...
regarded as native) Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) Sycamore (Acerpseudoplatanus) Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa; a Roman introduction)...
with an A has also been used for unrelated trees: the great maple, Acerpseudoplatanus, or plane trees, Platanus. The spelling "sycomore", with an O rather...
changes in physiological characteristics and chemical composition of Acerpseudoplatanus and Fraxinus excelsior trees". Tree Physiology. 29 (1): 27–38. doi:10...
on wing in May and again in August. The larvae feed on sycamore (Acerpseudoplatanus) mining the leaves. Fauna Europaea Kimber, Ian. "Phyllonorycter geniculella"...
(Acer) Hard maple Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) Black maple (Acer nigrum) Soft maple Boxelder (Acer negundo) Red maple (Acer rubrum) Silver maple (Acer...
also appear to have a negative impact on human health." Sycamore (Acerpseudoplatanus) branches showing one with and the other without the Angels' share...
American sycamore in West Virginia Sycamore maple or European sycamore (Acerpseudoplatanus), a maple which is visually very similar to sycamore Stritch, L....
America Program (BONAP). 2014. "CABI Invasive species compendium: Acerpseudoplatanus (sycamore)". Wallingford, U.K.: The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience...
snowy areas. Typical trees and bushes on Monte Grappa include maple (Acerpseudoplatanus) and lime (Tilia platyphyllos), the fir tree (Abies concolor), the...
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