THE ORIENTAL PLANE. 



209 



which are much smaller than those of the other 

 species, and remain attached to the tree all the 

 succeeding winter. By these the tree may be distin- 

 guished when every leaf has disappeared, as it 

 may also be by the light coloured irregular patches 



LEAF AND FLOWER OF ORIENTAL PLANE. 



on the trunk, occasioned by the shedding of the 

 bark described above. The seeds are imbedded 

 in soft bristly down, which, when the balls open, 

 serves to waft them away. 



The Plane is now, as it was in Pliny's time, 

 only valued as an ornamental tree. Its wood is 

 smooth-grained, and susceptible of a high polish. 

 Loudon says, that it is not much used in the West 

 of Europe, but that in the Levant and Asia, it is em- 

 ployed in carpentry, joining, and cabinet-making. 



II. p 



