Sycamore

A tree of contradictory perceptions; once loved as a shade tree it now bears the scorn of some countryside organisations that see it as a 'weed' which needs to be removed.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Great maple Plane (Scotland)
Generic name	Sycamore
Latin name	Acer pseudoplatanus
Family name	Maple
Latin family name	Aceraceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	16-35m

Leaf

Description	All maples have five lobed leaves. Sycamroe has many large coarse rounded teeth/serrations on each lobe. The leaf stems are characteristically red
Shape	Palmate
Size	Around 20cm long and wide
Colour	Dull, dark green
Leaf bud	Large light green buds which may be clustered at the end of a twig
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Opposite

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Multiple flowers in spike
Flower size	A 'tail' of flowers 6-12cm long, individual flowers very small
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Green ripening to pale brown
Fruit season	Autumn
Type of seed body	Large winged seed/key
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Pinkish-grey and smooth. After around 80 years small pale grey plates develop
Twig Description	Stout twigs browny-pink in colour

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Other very similar maples

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Non-native - naturalised
Where is its natural range?	Europe although precise locations are lost due to the long history of planting this tree
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Tolerates a wide range of conditions including urban and coastal environments.
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

This tree has numerable uses, it was possibly first introduced as a shade tree to give respite from the sun in parks and gardens. It timber is also of use, it is as strong as oak but does not last as long. The wood was commonly used for making toys or kitchen items as it was easily dyed and lacked a sticky resin which some other woods have. Now sycamore is a commonly planted street tree as it copes well with the polluted and harsh environments of our towns and cities.

Tree lore and folklore

The winged seeds known as ‘helicopters’ were used in flying competitions and model-making by children. More locally sycamore was the favoured wood for making 'love spoons' in Wales. These wedding gifts are linked with rings and were traditionally made from a single peice of wood.

Long lived tree