The Sycamore Maple, Acer pseudoplatanus
 (Read 250+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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Acer pseudoplatanus is the botanical name of the Sycamore Maple tree, a native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It was brought to the “new world” by the pilgrims for horticultural purposes. There are records from Botanical club journals dating as far back as 1870 of the Sycamore Maple being planted in New York and New Jersey as street trees and in park settings. As it took quite well to the New England climate it prospered to the point it is now considered by some to be an invasive weed tree. As it is rather an attractive and useful tree, however, very few people actually think ill of the Sycamore Maple.
The Sycamore Maple commonly grows on both ends of Canada and all over the northeastern part of the United States as far west as Kentucky and south to North Carolina. As it tolerates salt quite well its being settled often in seaside communities is not unusual. Cape Cod, the coastal regions of Rhode Island and south eastern Connecticut are strewn with the Sycamore Maple. Perhaps here it is a bit invasive.
The Sycamore Maple is a rather nice looking deciduous tree with spreading branches, a rounded canopy and standing anywhere from 40-100 feet tall. The bark is rough, grey and scaly. These scales often break off leaving a smooth, mottled pink, orange or reddish brown under layer to show through very similar to the London Plane Tree, the true Sycamore (Platanus acerifolia), hence the stolen common name. This may also be the reason for the Sycamore Maple being erroneously called the Planetree in Scotland.
The Sycamore Maple like most other Maples has the usual five lobed leaves with the lightly serrated edges. They are 3-6 inches wide and have deep veining but have a different texture than most Maple leaves, a bit leathery feeling. The top side is rather darker than the pale green underside. Unfortunately there is no spectacular autumn color change as in the Sugar Maple (A. Saccharum). But it is a moderately fast growing tree used primarily as a street or park tree in cities. Pollution and salt from winter snow removal don’t bother the Sycamore Maple even a bit.
The tiny flowers of the Sycamore Maple bloom in May and are insignificant to look at. They hang in 2-6 inch long pendulous racemes in a yellowish green color. The seeds form the usual whirly birds which kids throughout the ages have had considerable fun chasing down, catching and imitating as they spiral down to the ground each and every autumn. Needless to say the Sycamore Maple is a fun tree for climbing and wildlife like it fine for building nests in the highest branches far from the reach of most cats.
For a different looking Sycamore Maple the cultivar A. atropurpureum “Spaethii” has leaves in an unusually deep purple color on the underside. Perfect specimen tree for the larger home landscape. A trip to New England will not only allow the true tree enthusiast a great autumn show but will also give a chance at a close up view of the Sycamore Maple. Well worth planning one.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 For amusing short stories visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782. For an intriguing novelette-in-progress visit: http://www.myspace.com/glorygarden.
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