SYCAMORE 117 



Sycamore 



(Acer Pseudo-platanus) 



THE Sycamore or Great Maple is one of our most 

 accommodating trees, succeeding alike by the 

 exposed seaside or when planted in the very heart 

 of our towns and cities. Being of a hardy, robust 

 constitution, it can withstand chemical impurities of 

 the atmosphere, and so has been found one of the 

 best trees for planting in the smoke and dust of the 

 great Metropolis. There are many good examples 

 of the Sycamore at Chelsea and Fulham, as also in 

 the Regent's and the central parks, while even in the 

 East End, as in the Tower of London and by Bow and 

 Poplar, healthy specimens are to be seen. It is not a 

 native tree, but was introduced during the fifteenth 

 century ; but climatic conditions have been so favour- 

 able that the tree reproduces its kind in large numbers 

 from self-sown seed. The Sycamore is a tree of 

 rapid growth and lives to a great age, being little 

 subject to insect attacks or to get uprooted or broken 

 about by the wind. 



The Norway Maple (A. platanoides) is of rapid 

 growth, quite hardy, and may be seen of large size in 

 many suburban parts of the Metropolis. It has large, 

 five-lobed leaves and is one of the most ornamental 

 of medium-sized trees. There are good examples of 

 it in the central and other parks. 



The Red or Scarlet Maple (A. rubrum) also succeeds 

 well in smoky localities. It is a low-growing tree and 

 very ornamental in both leaf and flower. 



The Box-Elder or Ash-leaved Maple (A. Negundo, 

 known as Negundo fraxinifolium) is one of the best 



