American sycamore also known as American planetree, western plane, occidental
plane, buttonwood, and water beech is a species of Platanus native to the
eastern and central United States, the mountains of northeastern Mexico,
extreme southern Ontario, and possibly extreme southern Quebec. It is usually
called sycamore in North America, a name which can refer to other types of tree
in other parts of the world.
An American sycamore tree can often be easily distinguished from other trees by
its mottled bark which flakes off in great irregular masses, leaving the surface
mottled and gray, greenish-white and brown. The bark of all trees has to yield
to a growing trunk by stretching, splitting, or infilling. The sycamore 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.
The American sycamore is able to endure a big city environment and was formerly
extensively planted as a shade tree, but due to the defacing effects of
anthracnose it has been largely usurped in this function by the resistant London
plane.
Its wood has been used extensively for butcher’s blocks. It has been used for
boxes and crates; although coarse-grained and difficult to work, it has also
been used to make furniture, siding, and musical instruments.
Investigations have been made into its use as a biomass crop.
Further information:
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Missouri Botanical Garden
Go Botany New England