Plane
Platanus sp.
Plane-tree family (Platanaceae)
A highly camouflaged vacuum cleaner
The plane is a stately tree that has been planted along streets, in squares and on estates since Roman times. The large trees with palmate leaves and fruits in round spiky clusters can be identified by its flaking bark that, with different shades of brown and green, is reminiscent of the camouflage patterning on military uniform.
In cities the tree acts as a natural vacuum cleaner by filtering the air. Particulate matter (fine dust) are partially adsorbed by the tree, which is itself also highly resistant to air pollution. Moreover the plane is a favourite tree to grow in towns and cities because the open foliage casts a cooling shadow over our increasingly warmer streets. They can also be espaliered to form different shapes.
The plane produces fluffy seeds in balls of about 5 cm in diameter that are not released from the tree until after the winter.
Themes
Crown jewel on the Twickel Estate.
The young leaves and twigs are densely covered with stellate hairs. If the hairs are shed they can cause an allergic reaction in some people that include itching and irritation to mucous membranes.
Platanus is mainly planted as an ornamental, especially in urban areas and along roads - here it is usually the London plane. The occidental plane is sometimes grown for its wood but is now being investigated as to whether the species can serve as a biomass crop.
The oriental plane has a number of minor medicinal uses.
Details
Description: | Tree, up to 50 m; one or multi-stemmed, erect or weeping; bark exfoliating in thin slivers exposing conspicuous mosaic patterning beneath. |
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Distributions: | Northern hemisphere |
Habitat: | Most are found in riparian or other wetland habitats in the wild, although proving drought-tolerant in cultivation. the london plane has proved particularly tolerant of urban conditions. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic decidous) |
Notes on flowers: | Flowers unisexual - staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant - very crowded, 3-4(-8)-merous, inconspicuous. |
Fruiting period: | September - november |
Fruit color: | Brown, green |
Notes on fruits: | Achene borne in globose fruiting heads that can remain attached until the following spring |