EUROPEAN SYCAMORE-TREE. 89 
pound clusters. The fruit, or capsules are smooth,. with two, and sometimes 
three, large diverging wings. 
Vcwieties. The principal cultivated varieties of this species may be described 
as follows : 
1. A. p. flava variegata, Loudon. Yellow Variegated-leaved 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, Loudon. 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 the season, they soon become 
ragged, and in autumn, in dying off, 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 -obtuse-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 indigenousness. . 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 beiftg 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 triumph to Jerusalem, when the people strewed leaves and 
branches of palm and other trees in his way, exclaiming, 
" Hosanna to the Son of David." 
Math. xxi. 9. 
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