THE PLANES. 
Plat'anus orienta'lis L., and P. occidenta’lis L. 
Lorp CHANCELLOR Bacon’s contribution to the 
progress of modern science is still, to some 
extent, a matter of controversy. If, however, the 
tradition that it is to him we owe the introduc- 
tion of the Plane-tree into England were well 
founded, there can be no doubt that for this 
alone we should owe him much gratitude, especi- 
ally in London. 
The genus Platanus, which undoubtedly derives 
its name from the Greek wdarvs, broad, in reference 
either to its broad leaves or to its spreading shade 
is, according to the best authorities, almost the 
sole representative of a very isolated type of cat- 
kin-bearing trees, the five or six forms which it 
includes constituting a distinct Natural Order, the 
Platana‘cee, though they may be related to 
Liquidambar. They are trees which commonly 
reach a considerable height, up to even a hundred 
feet; with nearly cylindrical stems—in old speci- 
mens of enormous girth—and with wide-spreading 
branches. It was probably with reference to the 
general outline of the Oriental Plane that Spenser, 
in his “ Faérie Queene ” (1589), borrowing his epithet, 
no doubt, as was his wont, from some classical 
authority, speaks of “the Platane round.” 
The manner in which the bark flakes off in 
39 145 
