London Plane
From KeyToNature
Platanus x hispanica
Plane family (Platanceae)
Origin: Garden hybrid
Description: Wide-spreading tree up to 35m, with large branches. Bark grey but flaking to reveal large patches of buff and yellow. Leaves alternate, up to 25cm long and wide, palmately divided less than half-way to the midrib into 5 triangular lobes; the lobes have forward pointing teeth, smooth or sparsely hairy underneath. Flowers tiny, crowded into globose heads, the males yellow-green in colour, the females crimson. Fruits in soft, hairy heads like pom-poms which stay on the tree until spring before breaking up to disperse the hairy seeds.
Comments: Plane trees are pollution tolerant so are frequently planted as street trees.
Similar trees:
- Maples, especially sycamore and Norway Maple.
