Platanus occidentalis

Picture by Wayne Adams May 30, 2022.

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Spermatophyta

Subphylum: Angiospermae

Class: Dicotyledonae

Order: Hamamelidales

Family: Platanaceae

Genus: Platanus

Species: Platanus occidentalis

The American Sycamore as a use for humans can take in lots of water and this is a good trait for cities that have poor drainage areas. It is also used as a shade in the summer months. The Buttonwood Agreement of the New York Stock Exchange was signed under an American Sycamore tree (Yale University, 2022). Also, the American Sycamore can be used for wood in developing high-end furniture needs. It, however, is not a good wood product for home building use (Kaiser, 2011). The American Sycamore is food for the leaf beetle (N.C. State University, 2019). The lace bug lays its eggs on the underside of the American Sycamore’s leaf (N.C. State University, 2016). The American Sycamore leaf is toxic and should never be eaten (Quora, 2020).

The climate affects the American Sycamore through temperatures. The temperature tolerance of the American Sycamore can withstand 110 degrees F, and then they begin to die of heat damage. The best germination temperature of the American Sycamore is 59 to 85 degrees F (Doxon, 2021). The climate soil/moisture content must be very moist and usually find the plant along rivers or in/near wetlands (Yale University, 2022). Where I found this specific plant is near the Braden Bottom wetland about 100 yards from a freshwater pond. Here is a picture of the location I found the American Sycamore. The biome associated with the American Sycamore is called the wetland and riparian zone (Yale University, 2022).

References:

University of Oklahoma. (n.d.). Oklahoma Vascular Plants Database.

Oklahoma Vascular Plants Database (oklahomaplantdatabase.org)

CABI. (n.d.). Plantus Species Compendium Sycamore.

Platanus occidentalis (sycamore) (cabi.org)

LeafSnap. (May 30, 2022). American Sycamore.

LeafSnap - Android Apps on Google Play

Adams, W. (May 30, 2022). Picture taken by Wayne Adams.

Kaiser, J. (August 14, 2011). American Sycamore.

American Sycamore | Woodworking Network

Yale University. (2022). American Sycamore.

American Sycamore | Yale Nature Walk