EUROPEAN SYCAMORE-TREE. 89 



pound clusters. The fruit, or capsules are smooth, with two, and sometimes 

 three, large diverging wings. 



Varieties. The principal cultivated varieties of this species may be described 

 as follows : 



1. A. p. FLAVA VARIEGATA, Loudon. Yellow Variegaled-Uaved Sycamore^ or 

 Costorphine Plane-tree. The leaves of this variety are variegated with yellow. 

 The original tree stands in the grounds of Sir T. Dick Lauder, in the parish 

 of Costorphine, near Edinburgh. 



2. A. p. ALBO VARIEGATA, Loudou. White Variegated-leaved Sycamore-tree. 

 The leaves of this variety are blotched with white. It is more common in 

 Europe than the preceding. It has much to recommend it in spring or beginning 

 of summer, from the beauty of its foliage ; but later in tlie season, they soon become 

 ragged, and in autumn, in dying otf, they acquire a dirty colour, and a diseased 

 appearance. 



3. A. p. PURPUREA, Loudon. Purple-leaved Sycamore-tree. The leaves are of 

 a fine purple beneath, when matured, and have a beautiful appearance when 

 slightly ruffled by the wind. 



4. A. p. suBOBTusA, Loudon. Half-obtiise-leaved Sycamore-tree. The lobes 

 of the leaves of this variety are blunt ; and the fruit and wings are large. 



5. A. p. LAciNiATA, Loudon. Cut-leaved Sycamore-tree. The lobes of the 

 leaves in this variety are jagged. 



Geography and History. The Acer pseudo-platanus is found in various parts 

 of Europe, particularly in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Italy, in wooded 

 mountainous situations. In England, it is found in hedges and about houses, 

 but not truly wild. The first record of this tree as being cultivated in Britain, 

 is in Turner's " Herbal," in 1551 ; it is mentioned by most other British authors 

 since, as of doubtful indigeiiousness. Gerard, in 1597, says "it is a stranger in 

 England, only found growing in the walks and places of pleasure of noblemen, 

 where it is planted for the sake of its shadow." Ray speaks of it as being very 

 common in courtyards, churchyards, avenues, &c. Martyn observes, in his 

 edition of " Miller's Dictionary," that, "if it were truly indigenous, the country 

 would have been full of it ; since the tree comes up with such wonderful facility 

 from the seed." Sir T. Dick Lauder says, ' It is a favourite Scotch tree, having 

 been much planted about old, aristocratic residences in Scotland; and, if the 

 doubt of its being a native of Britain be true, which, however, we cannot believe, 

 then it is probable that the long intimacy which subsisted between France and 

 Scotland, may be the cause of its being so prevalent in the latter country." 

 Evelyn accuses it of "contaminating the walks, where it may be planted, with 

 its leaves, which, like those of the ash, fall early, and putrefy, with the first 

 moisture of the season." He further remarks, that it "should be banished from 

 all curious gardens and avenues," though he acknowledges that "for more dis- 

 tant plantations it is desirable, particularly where better timber will not pros- 

 per so well, as in places near the sea ; it being in no way injured by the spray, 

 which is so prejudicial to most trees." In Switzerland, this species is found from 

 two thousand to three thousand feet above the level of the sea, reaching up the 

 mountains to the point where the Vaccinium vitis-idaea commences ; provided, 

 however, that the soil be dry and of a good quality. In such situations it suf- 

 fers much less from frost and snow than any other tree. 



The Acer pseudo-platanus, in the language of flowers, signifies curiosity, 

 because it was supposed to be the tree on which Zaccheus climbed to see our 

 Saviour ride in trinin])h to .lerusalem, when the people strewed leaves and 

 branches of palm and other trees in his way, exclaiming, 



" Hosanna lo iho Son of D;iviii." 



Math. xxi. 9. 



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