7 6 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



the foot of the White Mountains in Sfa- 

 kia, a few hours' ride from the town of 

 Khania, watered by a copious stream, 

 which probably derived its namePlata- 

 nus from the number of Planes growing 

 there. Their beauty was much enhanced 

 by many of the largest trees being held 

 firmly in the grip of gigantic vines en- 

 twining their trunks for some feet above 

 ground, as it were, with a huge cable 

 nearly the thickness of a man's body, 

 through and over the branches to their 

 very tops, and afterwards hanging down 

 in long festoons of bright leaves and 

 fruit. And yet the Planes seemed in 

 good health, though they must have 

 been held for many a long year in the 

 grasp of these vines " (D. H. in The 

 Garden) . 



These are of little importance be- 

 side the common kind : P. o. insidaris 

 has leaves much smaller 

 than the commonPlane, 

 roundish at the base, 

 with three or five lobes usually entire, 

 and with thin leaf-stalks as compared 

 with the stout ones of the type. The 

 under-sides of the leaves frequently 

 take a russet tinge, and the bark is 

 rougher and sheds itself less. This va- 

 riety is found in Cyprus, Crete, and 

 other islands of the eastern Mediter- 

 ranean region, in common with a sub- 

 variety showing a marked modifica- 

 tion in the form of the leaf in which, 

 though cut very deeply, the lobes fre- 

 quently touch. The bark of this form 

 is rougher and more persistent than in 

 the cultivated varieties. P. o. acerifolia^ 

 the most widely -spread form, is easily 

 recognised by its large leaves divided 



Varieties of the 

 Eastern Plane. 



into broad lobes, slightly cut and widely 

 open. The bark is^easily detachable in 

 large flakes, leaving the stem smooth 

 and glossy. This variety, remarkable by 

 its vigour and ample foliage, is abun- 

 dant throughout southern Europe and 

 is the form commonly seen in London. 

 P. o.flabellifolia : Very large leaves 9 to 

 10 inches in length and width, deeply 

 cut into long indented lobes, and borne 

 on short leaf-stalks. 



In addition to these well-marked 

 forms there exist a number of more or 

 less distinct garden variations, thus: 

 — cuneata, integrtfolia^ laciniata, ma- 

 crophylla^ palmata, and pyramidalis. 

 Amongst the more distinct of these are 

 asplenifolia, with foliage finely divided 

 and graceful in effect; li?~iodendrifolia 

 with three -lobed leaves resembling 

 those of the Tulip-tree ; and some va- 

 riegated forms, which, as manifestations 

 of disease, are better left to those who 

 raise them. 



Though in the main free from insect 

 pests and diseases, the Plane is subject 

 to the attacks of a mi- 

 nute fungus (Glceospo- 

 rium nervisequuni) which is now the 

 cause of increasing loss in France. Its 

 first effects are seen in the premature 

 withering and fall of the leaves. In con- 

 ditions favourable to the disease this 

 may occur for several seasons, until not 

 only the smaller branches but also the 

 main stems and trunk are attacked. 

 The great size of the trees is against 

 any systematic treatment. The smaller- 

 leaved kinds seem in general less liable 

 to the disease than those of ampler foli- 

 age, the forms of cuneata being nearly 



Enemies. 



