Species: Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Family: Maples and Horse Chestnut (SAPINDACEAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Maples and Horse Chestnut (SAPINDACEAE)
Known also as the Soapberry family, many members contain mildly toxic saponins with soap-like qualities.
C. Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
The flowers in hanging clusters, from May, and the winged fruits, produce a prolific number of seedlings, indicating exactly why introduced species like this one can be so ecologically damaging.
The white or cream colour of Sycamore wood darkens to a golden colour over time. It is easily worked and bends and stains well. Decorative wood burning (Pyrography) is best done on sycamore wood, and it is also favoured by wood turners, especially for kitchenware such as bowls, boards, platters, rolling pins, mangle rollers, and table tops, where it is important that the wood does not affect the taste of the food and can be cleaned effectively. The wavy grain makes it attractive for musical instruments and fine furniture. Young sycamore twigs can be made into whistles.
The sugary sap makes a good wine.
Images
Sycamore
In spite of its reputation as a destructive tree, the Sycamore is worth looking at for its attractive leaves.
Sycamore
The Sycamore is worth looking at for its attractive leaves which have a variety of greens and reds not just in Autumn. Here, the Sycamore's leaves show red in early July.
Sycamore
The Sycamore is worth looking at for its attractive leaves which have a variety of greens and reds not just in Autumn. Here, the Sycamore's leaves show red in mid-April.
Sycamore
A pendant flower spike from a mature Sycamore leaning in from the other side of the cemetery's perimeter wall, May 2024.
Sycamore
A cluster of immature two-winged fruits, suspended from a tree just outside the cemetery, May 2024.
