Sycamore maple is a fast
growing, vigorous deciduous tree with a broadly domed crown. Its bark is
greyish, broken up by numerous fissures into irregular patched that can
sometimes fall away revealing an orange under layer. Its branches are quite
thick near the main bole, terminating in grey-green twigs with pale lenticels
and reddish buds.
Its leaves are opposite, up
to 15cm long and divided into 5 toothed lobes. The leaves produce a bright
green display in spring as they are so large and abundant. Its flowers are
prolific, pendulous yellow clusters up to 12cm long opening about the same time
as the leaves in April/May. Paired fruits ripen during the summer and reach a
length of 6cm. They are green in colour to begin with becoming redder and
finally brown and dried. It has a horseshoe shaped, winged fruit that spreads
easily as it is carried effectively by the wind. Sycamore is native to the
hills and uplands of central and South Europe but it is widely planted and
naturalised elsewhere, including Britain and Ireland. It does well on heavy soils
and tolerates coastal conditions as well as uplands. It can dominate woodlands
and can be quite invasive if unmanaged.
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