Platanus occidentalis
American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis, commonly known as the American sycamore, is a majestic deciduous tree prized for its impressive size and distinctive peeling bark. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this resilient species plays a vital role in riparian ecosystems, providing shade and stabilizing soil along riverbanks while supporting diverse local wildlife.
- Scientific name: Platanus occidentalis
- Family: Platanaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered within the Proteales and belongs to the family Platanaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Platanus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Proteales | WCVP |
| Family | Platanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Platanus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Platanus occidentalis, is known by several names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is commonly referred to as 美桐 across various locales, including zh-hans, zh-hant, zh-hk, zh-cn, and zh-sg.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 美桐 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 美桐 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 美桐 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 美桐 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 美桐 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 美桐 | Wikidata |
| pl | Platan zachodni | Wikidata |
| ru | Платан западный | Wikidata |
| ko | 양버즘나무 | Wikidata |
| tr | Batı çınarı | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread and fragmented geographical distribution spanning several continents. In Central Asia, its presence is documented within the borders of Turkmenistan. The species also extends into the Caucasus region, specifically inhabiting the North Caucasus and the Transcaucasus. Moving across the ocean, it can be found in Eastern Canada, particularly within the province of Ontario. Finally, its range reaches the North-Central United States, specifically in the state of Illinois.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central Asia | Turkmenistan | WCVP |
| Caucasus | North Caucasus | WCVP |
| Caucasus | Transcaucasus | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Nebraska | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
Chemicals
Platanus occidentalis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cardiolipin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cardiolipin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Platanus occidentalis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anxiolytic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Platanus occidentalis has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |