G.80] 



CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 



139 



ORDER XXXVII. PLATANACE-ffi. 



(PLANE-TREE FAMILY.) 



A very small order, containing but one genus : 



GENUS 80. PLATANUS. 



Trees with alternate, simple, large, palmately lobed 

 leaves. The base of the petiole is hollowed to cover the 

 bud. Flowers inconspicuous; in early spring. Fruit a 

 large, dry ball, hanging on a long peduncle, and remain- 

 ing on the tree through the winter. Large tree with 

 white bark separating into thin, brittle plates. 



1. Pl&tanusoccident&lis, L. (AMERI- 

 CAN SYCAMORE. BUTTONWOOD.) Leaves 

 large (6 to 10 in. broad), roundish heart- 

 shaped, angularly sinuate-lobed, the 

 short lobes sharp-pointed, scurfy-downy 

 till old. Fruit globular, solitary, 1 in. 

 in diameter, hanging on long, 4-in. pe- 

 duncles ; remaining on the tree through 

 the winter. A large, well-known tree, 

 80 to 100 ft. high ; found on river-banks 

 throughout ; also cultivated. Wood 

 brownish, coarse-grained ; it cannot be 

 split, and is very difficult to smooth. The 



P. occidentd-lis. 



marking of the grain on the quar- 

 tered lumber is very beautiful. 



2. Pl&tanus orientdlis, L. (ORI- 

 ENTAL PLANE.) Leaves more deeply 

 cut, smaller, and sooner smooth than 

 those of the American Sycamore. 

 Fruit frequently clustered on the pe- 

 duncles. This tree is similar to the 

 American -Sycamore, and in many 

 ways better for cultivation. 



