The Sycamores 



built of its wood. Its scientific name is Ficus Sykomorus. In 

 Europe, the great maple, Acer Pseudo-platanus, is called sycamore. 

 In America, our sycamore is Plaianus occidentalis. Botanists try 

 to teach Europeans to call their tree the sycamore maple and 

 Americans to call theirs the buttonwood; but in spite of their 

 efforts the old names stick. The traveller who meets abroad all 

 three of these sycamores — a fig, a plane, and a maple — all different 

 but known by the same common name, is ready to side with the 

 botanists, for his head is in a whirl. Common names may do 

 well enough till all the trees ire met with in the same region. 

 Then trouble and confusion are constant. 



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