American sycamore

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American plane-tree
• American sycamore
• buttonball
• buttonball tree
• buttonwood
• sycamore
• American Plane
• American Plane Tree
• buttontree
• eastern sycamore

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Platanus vulgaris var. angulosa
• Platanus vulgaris proles occidentalis
• Platanus occidentalis f. attenuata
• Platanus orientalis var. occidentalis
• Platanus integrifolia
• Platanus occidentalis var. densicoma
• Platanus densicoma
• Platanus lobata
• Platanus pyramidalis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Platanus occidentalis is characterized by its ability to thrive within a variety of environments, including managed landscapes such as the garden. While naturally occurring in riparian zones and moist alluvial soils near riverbanks, this species demonstrates significant adaptability when integrated into cultivated settings. In a garden habitat, its ecological role often involves providing structural shade and contributing to local microclimates through high rates of transpiration. The plant requires consistent moisture and nutrient-rich soil to maintain its vigorous growth patterns, and its presence in a garden setting can influence local soil moisture levels and support diverse insect populations.

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Platanus occidentalis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a robust presence within its ecosystem over many years. As part of its seasonal cycle, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to changing environmental conditions. This cyclical loss of leaves is a critical component of its survival strategy, facilitating resource conservation during periods of dormancy. Through its perennial growth pattern, the plant undergoes successive cycles of vegetative development and seasonal senescence, ensuring long-term persistence in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Platanus occidentalis is characterized by its significant stature, reaching a mean plant height of approximately 35.02 meters. It exhibits a robust growth form classified as a tree and possesses a woody structure. As a terrestrial organism, it does not function as an epiphyte or an aquatic plant, nor does it exhibit climbing tendencies, as it is a self-supporting species. Furthermore, the plant is biologically independent, functioning as a non-parasitic organism within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

35.0166666666667 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Platanus occidentalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptation strategies. The vegetative morphology reveals significant variation in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, maintaining a mean leaf length of 2.5 cm. Resource allocation and leaf efficiency are further reflected in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 232.8 cm²/g, indicating the structural investment per unit of leaf mass. Additionally, the structural integrity and biomass distribution of the plant are supported by a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 475 mg/cm³, providing a quantitative measure of its wood density and internal tissue composition.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

232.8 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

475 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Platanus occidentalis is characterized by a diverse dispersal strategy and specific seed physical properties. The plant utilizes multiple dispersal syndromes to facilitate the spread of its offspring, primarily employing anemochory (wind dispersal) and hydrochory (water dispersal) to move seeds away from the parent plant. Regarding the physical characteristics of its seeds, the mass is relatively small and falls within a narrow range; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.00300528125 g, with individual seed weights varying from a minimum of 0.00222 g to a maximum of 0.00392 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Seed mass max:

0.00392 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00300528125 g

Seed mass min:

0.00222 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Platanus occidentalis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid, cardiolipin.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

cardiolipin

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Activities

Platanus occidentalis has 19 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Platanus occidentalis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Anxiety

1. Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)