Sycamore

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is sometimes confused for its genetically crossed sibling, London Plane (Platanus × hispanica), which is all over the city, on streets and in parks. In fact, finding an American Sycamore is a good challenge.

London Plane in typical habitat, a park, for comparison. The bark situation stands out.

Am Syc are barky up the trunk, only getting to the smooth, multi-colored, peeling away look higher on the main stem and the branches.

Leaves can be quite large.

Two seed balls on one stem is generally a characteristic of the L.P., and unusual for an American Sycamore, but it has been known to happen.

A couple more of the Am Syc seed balls. Below are two examples of L.P. seed balls: