Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore maple)

Acer pseudoplatanus L.

Sycamore maple

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Sapindales	Includes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
Family	Sapindaceae	Soapberry family
Genus	Acer	Maples
Species	pseudoplatanus	Means “false plane-tree”

About plant names...

Sycamore maples are natives of central Europe and southwestern Asia. They are now established in North America.

Identification: This tree reaches 66-115' (20-35 m) in height, with a broad crown that is oval or rounded in shape. As the tree ages, smooth gray bark becomes brown, and begins breaking into scales, peeling to reveal pale brown, pinkish, or green inner bark. Leaves are five-lobed, similar to those of sugar maples in overall shape, but with more serrations. They are about 4-10" (10-25 cm) in size. Don’t confuse the sycamore maple tree with the dissimilar sycamore tree, Ficus sycomorus.

10/8/2011 · Mine Falls Park, Nashua, New Hampshire
≈ 23 × 17" (58 × 43 cm)

1/16/2019 · Mine Falls Park, Nashua, New Hampshire

These “sycamores” are not related.

	You are here Acer pseudoplatanus	*Platanus occidentalis*
Common Name	sycamore maple	American sycamore
Plant	66-115' (20-35 m) high, with a broad crown, oval to rounded in shape.	98-131' (30-40 m) high, up to 6½' (2 m) in diameter.
Flowers	Yellowish green, in May.	Male flowers are dark red, while female flowers are light green tinged with red. Both are ball-shaped.
Leaves	Five-lobed, with serrated edges, 4-10" (10-25 cm) in size.	4-9" (10-22 cm) in size, somewhat resembling maple leaves, with 3-5 lobes.
Stem	Depending on age, may be smooth and gray or covered with large peeling scales that reveal several colors of inner bark.	*Bark is mottled, with large irregular chunks like puzzle pieces that flake off, revealing differently colored bark beneath.* Bark colors include tan, light gray, white, cream, and olive green.
Seeds	Samaras are 1¼-2" (3.2-5 cm).
Fruit		Bumpy brown balls about 1" (2.5 cm) around, on stems up to 3" (7.6 cm) long. Bumps separate into airborne seeds after drying.
Range/ Zones
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

Acer pseudoplatanus at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Acer pseudoplatanus on Wikipedia

Acer pseudoplatanus at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Acer pseudoplatanus at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Acer pseudoplatanus on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 348

Acer pseudoplatanus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 15 Jul 2020.

10/8/2011 · Mine Falls Park, Nashua, New Hampshire
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

Range:

About this map...