THE SYCAMOEE. 



A'eer Pseudo-Pla'tcmus L. 



With no claim to be considered as truly indigenous 

 in the British Isles, the Sycamore {Acr Pseudo- 

 Platanus L.) is of such ancient introduction, and is 

 now found so commonly, not only in parks and near 

 houses, but also in our woodlands throughout the 

 length and breadth of the country, that few trees are 

 better known. In connection with few of our common 

 trees, however, has there been so great a confusion of 

 nomenclature as with this species. Long ago recog- 

 nised by the characters of its flowers and fruit, not to 

 mention the arrangement and veining of its leaves, as 

 a Maple, and correctly named accordingly the Great 

 Maple, the remarkable denseness of its foliage, and the 

 grateful shade which it in consequence affords, caused 

 it to be confused in Western Europe, at an early 

 period, with the true Sycamore, or Fig Mulberry 

 {Fi'cus Sykam'orus L.) of Scripture, a confusion which 

 it is Stated is stUl retained in the language of flowers, 

 according to which mystic code of symbolism this 

 tree signifies " curiosity," because it is identified with 

 that on which Zacchseus climbed that he might see 

 Christ at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This 

 conflision is said to have led to a considerable planting 

 of this species by religious persons in the fourteenth 

 and fifteenth centuries. 



Similarly in Scotland it is still commonly 



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