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Platanus occidentalis Linnaeus var. occidentalis . Sycamore, Plane-tree, Buttonball, Buttonwood. Phen: Apr-Jun; Sep-Nov. Hab: Riverbanks and alluvial forests, streambanks, sometimes weedy on rocky roadcuts. Dist: S. ME west to s. ON, MI, and MN, south to Panhandle FL and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: P. palmeri Kuntze, sometimes treated as P. occidentalis var. palmeri (Kuntze) Nixon & Poole ex Geerinck, but better interpreted as a species (Grimm & Denk 2010), occurs from c. TX south into Coahuila.

Other Comments: One of the largest trees in e. North America, and probably the largest that is widespread in the Piedmont of our area.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Nixon & Poole (2003); = Platanus occidentalis L. – Ar, K4, Mi, NcTx, NY, Tx, Va, Grimm & Denk (2010); < Platanus occidentalis L. – C, FNA3, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K1, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, W, WH3, WV; >< Platanus occidentalis L. var. glabrata (Fernald) Sarg. – F; > Platanus occidentalis L. var. occidentalis – F

Links to other floras: < Platanus occidentalis - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (name change)
  • Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley, leaf attachment source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Paul Marcum source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷

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