Taxonomy
| Clade | angiosperm |
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| Family | Platanaceae |
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| Genus | Platanus |
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| Species | occidentalis |
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| Common Name | American sycamore |
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| iTree Code | PLOC |
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Plant Form
| Form | Tree: tall, large crown |
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| Height | 100 feet |
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| Spread | 60 feet |
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| Deciduous | Yes |
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Identification Description
| Foliage | lobed (like maple), dark/shiny green, coarse toothed edge, 4-8” wide |
Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
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| Bark | mottled brown/white/green, flaking/patchy & creamy/white smooth underneath |
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| Bud | false terminal bud, single bud-cap, lateral buds hidden under leaf-stem |
Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
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| Twig | slender, red-brown |
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| Flower | both male and female on single tree; male- yellow, female-red |
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| Fruit | round “ball” (achene) of many tightly packed seeds, persists in winter |
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| Fall Color | brown |
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Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
| Min | 4a |
Min | 4.9 |
Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 9b |
Max | 6.5 |
Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
| Intermediate |
Moderate |
No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native |
|
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| U.S. Native |
|
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| Region of Origin | United States, Mexico |
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| More Information | Visit External Site |
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