California Sycamore 



419 



sycamores; the winter buds are conic, somewhat long-pointed, and about 8 mm. 

 long. The leaves are 1.5 to 2.5 dm. across, 3- to 5-lobed to about the middle, 

 the lobes wedge-shaped, sharply pointed, entire or toothed, usually cordate, some- 

 times truncate or wedge-shaped at the base, thick and firm, hght green above, 

 paler and woolly, especially on the venation beneath; the stout leaf -stalk is 2.5 

 to 7 cm. long, and hairy. The fruit-heads, of which there are 2 to 7, are 2 to 3 

 cm. in diameter, hanging on a smooth stalk 13 to 25 cm. long, the lateral ones 

 being sessile or nearly so. The angular nutlets are somewhat tapering at the top 

 and capped by the relatively long, curved, persistent style. 



Fig. 367. California Sycamore. 



The wood is similar to that of the Arizona tree, except that it is shghtly heavier, 

 its specific gravity being about 0.49. 



This is considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the native deciduous 

 trees of the Pacific coast. 



