Station 39

Botanical Name: Platanus occidentalis

Common Name: American Sycamore

 Major Deciduous Tree

Native Origin: Eastern North America

Height:   75’-100’ May Reach 125’+

Spread:   80’

Form:   Wide Spreading

Flowers:   Green - Inconspicuous

Fruit:   Brown and Rounded

Bark:   Gray Exfoliating to Whitish Interior

Comments:  The American sycamore is a very large deciduous tree found in rich moist soil conditions.  The leaves are maple-like in form, but large in size from 4”to 9” wide.  The smooth bark is a very distinctive with gray segments exfoliating to expose a whitish and creamy colored interior.  This a young tree, you can see a mature tree on the other side of the Nokomis Creek by looking for the light white bark.  For a rare experience walk down to the Bailey Field Suspension Bridge which takes you into the lower canopy of some grandiose American sycamores.

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