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American planetree

Platanus occidentalis

Description:

An American planetree can often be easily distinguished from other trees by its mottled exfoliating bark which flakes off in great irregular masses, leaving the surface mottled, and greenish-white, gray and brown. The bark of all trees has to yield to a growing trunk by stretching, splitting, or infilling; the planetree shows the process more openly than many other trees. The explanation is found in the rigid texture of the bark tissue which lacks the elasticity of the bark of some other trees, so it is incapable of stretching to accommodate the growth of the wood underneath, so the tree sloughs it off. A planetree can grow to massive proportions, typically reaching up to 30 to 40 m high and 1.5 to 2 m in diameter when grown in deep soils. The largest of the species have been measured to 51 m, and nearly 4 m in diameter. A planetree is often divided near the ground into several secondary trunks, very free from branches. Spreading limbs at the top make an irregular, open head. Roots are fibrous. The trunks of large trees are often hollow. Another peculiarity is the way the leaves grow sticky, green buds. In early August, most trees in general will have—nestled in the axils of their leaves—the tiny forming bud which will produce the leaves of the coming year. The planetree branch apparently has no such buds. Instead there is an enlargement of the petiole which encloses the bud in a tight-fitting case at the base of the petiole.

Habitat:

In its native range, it is often found in riparian and wetland areas.

Notes:

Platanus occidentalis is one of two Plantanus species that have been introduced in Holland, the other is Platanus orientalis. Spotted in Nieuwe Rande in rural area of Deventer, Holland. (sources:see reference)

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1 Comment

maplemoth662
maplemoth662 6 years ago

Photo No. 6: is a very beautiful, landscape photo, and a very beautiful, tree photo....

Jae
Spotted by
Jae

Deventer, Overijssel, Netherlands

Spotted on May 22, 2015
Submitted on May 22, 2015

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