Trees and How to Know Them 



THE UNPREDICTABLE SYCAMORE 



Young sycamores are generally flat at the bottom and round at the top, but as 

 they age their forms show interesting individuality. The branches spread and twist 

 at every angle, and their leaves, broader than long, provide heavy foliage. Some 

 sycamores grow tall straight trunks, others have trunks dividing close to the ground. 



In older trees, the bark is two or three inches thick and broken 

 by numerous shallow fissures. This results in a scaly appearance, 

 and the light-colored mottled look is replaced by dark gray or 

 reddish brown. 



"The Button-Ball Tree": The inconspicuous flowers of the syca- 

 more blossom when the leaves unfold early in May. By October, 

 the fruit that develops from them provides an excellent "trade* 



