Plane Tree History Where Do London Plane Trees Come From

The London plane is thought to be a cross between the Oriental plane and the American sycamore – both of which had been introduced to Britain. By chance, one of each species had been planted in the London nursery garden of John Tradescant, the younger which cross-pollinated to produce a new hybrid.

Where do plane trees come from?

Plane trees, also called London plane trees, are natural hybrids that developed in the wild in Europe. In French, the tree is called “platane à feuilles d'érable,” meaning platane tree with maple leaves. The plane tree is a member of the sycamore family and bears the scientific name Platanus x acerifolia.

Why are there so many plane trees in London?

It was planted en masse at a time when London was black with soot and smoke from the Industrial Revolution and when population expansion forced greater urban planning. Taking a cue from the plane-lined boulevards built in Paris from around 1850, the tree flourished in London due to its hardy characteristics.

How old are London plane trees?

The oldest London planes date from first plantings around 1660-80. The oldest living examples are at Buckden, Robert Sanderson, (Bishop of Lincoln 1660-1663), is said to have been presented with two London planes; both are still growing healthily.

Is a London plane tree a sycamore tree?

London planetree is a hybrid resulting from a cross between the native sycamore and the non-native Asian planetree. Like sycamore, this is a large tree with beautiful peeling bark.

How long do plane trees live?

The London plane can grow to 35m and live for several hundred years. The bark is olive green to grey, with large scaly plates that peel off to reveal a creamy bark beneath.

Why is it called a plane tree?

Common names for the plane

The common name for the genus is 'plane' in British English, 'sycamore' or 'planetree' in American English. Variations of 'platane', 'platano' are used in much of Europe, names derived from the Greek 'platanos' or 'platus', meaning broad, and referring to the leaves.

Is London plane tree toxic?

Well-Known Member. The thing is... as soon as someone official says "its not poisonous..." they open themselves up to any number of probably spurious lawsuits hoping for an out of court settlement. There are no recorded cases of London Plane causing poisoning in equids.

Are London plane trees fast growing?

Description: Large deciduous, extremely hardy tree. Grows up to 1 metre per year.

What is the most common tree in London?

Believe it or not, the sycamore is the most common species of tree in London, beating what is often wrongly considered the most prevalent, the London plane. Numbering circa 656,000, the species make up 7.79% of the capital's overall tree population.

How tall do London plane trees grow?

The London planetree grows to a height of 75–100' and a spread of around 80' at maturity.

Is a London plane tree a maple?

The maple-leaved shape of the plane tree is extremely robust and is a popular street tree tolerating exhaust and polluted air in many countries.

Are plane trees protected?

Tighter controls on the import of sweet chestnut and plane trees come into force today throughout England and Scotland as the latest action to guard against tree pests and diseases. ... This new legislation will help keep the UK free from plane canker and chestnut blight.

Do sycamore trees have deep roots?

The sycamore is a "windfirm" tree. Its widespread, strongly branched root system keeps it firmly anchored in the soil. The majority of its roots are found no deeper than a few feet from the surface of the soil.

What is the difference between plane tree and sycamore?

Plane tree, any of the 10 species of the genus Platanus, the only genus of the family Platanaceae. ... The plane trees bear flowers of both sexes on the same tree but in different clusters. The sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), often called sycamore, plane, or mock plane, is distinct (see maple).

Is London plane a hardwood?

Lacewood/London plane

Plane tree is a hybrid tree often planted in towns and cities. The wood is hard, with a close grain and is light brown in colour. There are numerous medullary rays of medium size that are very conspicuous and decorative on quarter cut surfaces.

What is a plane tree in the Bible?

The oriental plane tree, Platanus orientalis, is a very close relative of the common sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, of Eastern North America. In several translations of the Bible a species of fig is called sycamore, a corruption of "sycamine".

Do Plane Trees absorb pollution?

Acting like fly paper for pollution particles, the benefits of plane trees outweigh their disadvantages. They don't absorb it, but pollution particles do get stuck to the bark and trapped in the hairs on the leaves.

Do plane trees cause allergies?

So do plane trees cause hay fever symptoms? The answer is a guarded yes - particularly in September, among people with allergies. It's also likely but unproven that plane tree leaf trichomes cause a range of irritant effects in a wider population and for longer.

What are plane trees in France?

Provence plane trees are a hybrid of the Asian and American sycamore trees. They were created, quite by accident out of Oxford, England in the 16th century. In the 19th century, plane trees were imported to Southern France, and planted extensively.

Are sycamore trees male and female?

Sycamore is a massive tree with spreading branches. ... Sycamore is monoecious; both male and female flowers occurring on the same tree. The flower is not very showy and you may not even know it is there. Flowers appear in May.

What tree has camouflage bark?

Its bark looks like a jigsaw puzzle

A sycamore can also be identified by its broad, maple-like leaves and button-shaped seeds. The complexion of its trunk and limbs, however, is a unique jigsaw of green, tan, and cream shapes, a coloring that reminds some people of military or hunting camouflage.