| Acer pseudoplatanus | |
|---|---|
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| Acer pseudoplatanus in the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel, Germany | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Acer |
| Section: | Acer sect. Acer |
| Series: | Acer ser. Acer |
| Species: | A. pseudoplatanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Acer pseudoplatanus | |
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| Distribution map | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Acer pseudoplatanus, known as the sycamore in the British Isles and as the sycamore maple in the United States,[3] is a species of maple native to Central Europe and Western Asia. It is a large deciduous, broad-leaved tree, tolerant of wind and coastal exposure.
Although native to an area ranging from France eastward to Ukraine, northern Turkey and the Caucasus, and southward to the mountains of Italy and northern Iberia, the sycamore establishes itself easily from seed and was introduced to the British Isles by 1500. It is now naturalised there and in other parts of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, where it may become an invasive species.[4]
The sycamore can grow to a height of about 35 m (115 ft) and the branches form a broad, rounded crown. The bark is grey, smooth when young and later flaking in irregular patches. The leaves grow on long leafstalks and are large and palmate, with five large radiating lobes. The flowers are greenish-yellow and hang in dangling flowerheads called panicles. They produce copious amounts of pollen and nectar that are attractive to insects. The winged seeds or samaras are borne in pairs and twirl to the ground when ripe. They germinate freely in the following spring.
In its native range, the sycamore is associated with a biodiverse range of invertebrates and fungi, but these are not always present in areas to which it has been introduced. It is sometimes planted in urban areas for its value as an ornamental. It produces a hard-wearing, creamy-white close-grained timber that is used for making musical instruments, furniture, joinery, wood flooring and kitchen utensils. It also makes good firewood. The rising sap in spring has been used to extract sugar and make alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and can be processed into a syrup similar to that of the sugar maple. Bees often collect the nectar to make honey.
- ^ Crowley, D.; Rivers, M.C.; Barstow, M. (2018) [errata version of 2017 assessment]. "Acer pseudoplatanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T193856A125923004. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T193856A2286517.en. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Acer pseudoplatanus L.". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 May 2016 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Acer pseudoplatanus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ "CABI Invasive species compendium: Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore)". Wallingford, UK: The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). Retrieved 18 May 2016.