Flora of the Southeastern United States

Platanus occidentalis Linnaeus var. occidentalis. Common name: Sycamore, Plane-tree, Buttonball, Buttonwood. Phenology: Apr-Jun; Sep-Nov. Habitat: Riverbanks and alluvial forests, streambanks, sometimes weedy on rocky roadcuts. Distribution: 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 ⓘ: = NSProv, Nixon & Poole (2003); = Platanus occidentalis L. — Ar, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NY, POWO, Tx, Va, Grimm & Denk (2010); < Platanus occidentalis L. — C, Can, FNA3, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, NS, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, W, WH3, WV; >< Platanus occidentalis L. var. glabrata (Fernald) Sarg. — F; > Platanus occidentalis L. var. occidentalis — F; Platanus occidentalis L. Basionym: Platanus occidentalis L. 1753

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