MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



SYCAMORE (Buttonwood) (Platanus occidental L.) 



THIS, the largest of the New England trees, occurs 

 occasionally throughout the State, frequenting the 

 borders of streams and rich bottom-lands. It grows 

 from fifty to one hundred feet in height and has a 

 trunk diameter of three to eight feet. The trunk may 

 spread near the ground into several large, secondary 

 limbs, or it may rise without branching for a consider- 

 able distance and then have large, spreading branches. 

 The branchlets are very often tufted in 

 appearance, due to the activities of a 

 fungus. The bark on the trunk and large 



SYCAMORE 



Winter twig and 



buds. One-half 



natural size. 



SYCAMORE 



Leaf and fruiting head. One-third natural size. 



limbs is greenish-gray in color and flakes 

 off in broad scales, exposing the inner bark 

 which is at first whitish or light green, 

 then darker. The leaves are simple, alter- 

 nate, three to five lobed and light green. 

 The base of the leaf-stalk is swollen and includes the 

 winter bud. The fruit is in the shape of a ball and is 

 about an inch in diameter. It contains very many 

 small seeds and usually remains on the tree until 

 spring. The wood is hard and firm but very perish- 

 able when exposed to the weather, and liable to warp. 

 It is used for tobacco boxes, furniture and interior 

 finish of houses. It is fairly good for fuel. 



50 



