Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Platanus occidentalis x orientalis = P. x hispanica

Other names

It can be referred to as the name in Latin, Platanus

occidentalis x orientalis = P. x hispanica, or simply as

Plane.

Family

Platanaceae

Flowering season

April to June

English distribution

It is found throughout the country but is less common in

the North, the far Southwest and the far Southeast.

See the BSBI distribution map for London Plane

Habitat

It is a neophyte which appeared in the UK in the 1600s

and has been known in the wild since around 1940.

Its origins are not clear. It could be a horticultural cross or

a hybrid between trees from Europe or Asia and the

Americas.

Both Platanus occidentalis and P. orientali are found in

the UK

in the same areas as the hybrid, London Plane.

The seeds are fertile and seedlings grow readily,

particularly in warm urban habitats, such as around

London..

Description

London Plane is a hardy, long-lived, shallow-rooted tree

growing up to 44m.

Male and female flowers are in hanging, globular clusters

on different branches of the same tree. Male flower-balls

are green and slightly smaller than the bright red female

flower-balls.

Individual male flowers have 3 to 4 small, green perianth

segments and 3 or 4 stamens.

Individual female flowers have 3 to 4 small perianth

segments, 3-4 red staminodes and a red linear stigma.

Fruits are achenes and are produced in a distinctive

ball which can remain on the tree throughout the winter.

Each achene has a single seed and many long hairs at

the base.

Leaves are stalked, palmate and sharply toothed.

The bark of the trunk is scaly and flaky.

London Plane is extensively grown beside roads in towns

because it is shallow-rooted, resistant to air pollution and

is not killed by repeated, severe pruning.