Sycamores are among our largest eastern forest trees. They are known for their patchy, exfoliating bark. There are fine specimens (above) around the Pool, but far more common are the closely related London Planetrees, which line many of the Park\'s main drives, and are widely planted throughout the city. The London Plane is a cross between the American Sycamore and its old-world cousin, the Oriental Planetree. The hybrid has proved hardy, leading to what some consider overuse, particularly in the days of Robert Moses, who favored them. A growing understanding of biodiversity implications now mitigates against such extensive investment in a single species.




The trees can be distinguished by the bark. The Sycamore (above) tends towards gray and white, and mature trees develop thick plates on the lower trunk. Planetree bark (below) remains thin, even on large trees, and peels in green and yellow patches. The Sycamore also maintains a strong central axis (excurrence) while the Planetree crown spreads more (deliquescence), another reason for its popularity as a shade tree.








The flowers look almost the same on either tree (these are London Plane). The little green balls appear with the new leaves, and already resemble the fruits; round clusters of tightly packed seeds, which mature in the Fall. These Platanus species are not related to the Maples, although the leaves are superficially similar, so do not be confused by the Sycamore Maple.