PLANE TREE. 



PLATANUS. 



AZ'IESTACEJE. MONOiCIA POLYANDKIA. 



Platanus is supposed to be derived from a Greek word signifying 

 wide ; in reference either to the broad leaves, or spreading branches 

 of the tree. French, platane ; Italian, platano. 



The Eastern Plane-tree, Platanus Orientalis, is a na- 

 tive of Asia, where it grows very large : the stem is tall, 

 erect, and covered with a smooth bark, which annually 

 falls off in scales. The leaves are alternate, about seven 

 inches long, and eight broad, deeply cut into five seg- 

 ments, and the two outer ones again slightly cut in the 

 middle : the segments have many acute indentures on 

 their borders, and have each a strong midrib, with many 

 lateral veins. The upper side of the leaf is a deep green, 

 the under side paler : the flowers are so small as scarcely 

 to be distinguished one from the other witliout glasses ; 

 they grow upon long-foot stalks, hanging downwards, in 

 balls, four or five together ; some of the larger balls are 

 four inches in circumference. They blow late in May, 

 or early in June, a little before the leaves come out. If 

 the seeds ai'e left upon the trees, they will remain till 

 spring, when they will fall off, the balls dropping to 

 pieces ; and the Avind will often caiTy these seeds (which 

 are surrounded with a bristly down) to a great distance. 



The size of the Plane vai'ies much in different coun- 

 tries : in Persia there are some of these trees four yards 



