Leaf:  Alternate, simple; blades circular in outline but divided into 3 or 5 shallow, sharp-pointed lobes, heart-shaped or cut straight across at the base; up to 7 inches long (longer on vigorous shoots) and often as broad; bright green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and smooth to slightly rough on the lower surface with sparsely hairy veins; leafstalks to 5 inches long, slightly hairy, hollow, exposing the bud when they fall off; stipules, resembling the leaves but only about an inch long, often persisting near the base of the leafstalks.  

Flower:  Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately but on the same tree, minute, crowded together in dense, round heads.  

Fruit:  Light brown, spherical heads, about 1 inch in diameter, hanging from flexible, drooping stalks which are 3 to 5 inches long, containing many small seeds surrounded by hairs, conspicuous throughout winter, breaking up In the spring to scatter the seeds in the wind.

Twig:  Smooth, light brown, somewhat zigzag; leaf scars alternate, encircling the buds, somewhat elevated, with 5 to 7 bundle traces.

Bark:   Reddish-brown and smooth when young, quickly breaking into thin, flat scales, falling away in sections to expose large patches of whitish or greenish inner bark; thick, dark brown, and divided in deep furrows near the base of old trees.

Form:  Large tree sometimes more than 100 feet tall, and occasionally 150 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 feet, forking into several large secondary trunks; crown broad, often irregular, with massive spreading limbs.

Discussion

The sycamore is considered the largest hardwood tree in North America, reaching its largest size along streams and on rich bottom lands.  The sycamore grows rapidly and can easily tolerate transplanting.  

The wood is hard and moderately strong, but decays rapidly in the ground.  The wood is used for furniture parts, millwork, flooring, and specialty products such as butcher blocks, as well as pulpwood, particleboard, and fiberboard. 

Sycamore may be planted for shade or as an ornamental because of its rapid growth and unusual bark.
 

Distinguishing Characteristics

The large, palmately-lobed leaves and the brown and gray mottled bark readily distinguishes this tree.  The bark flakes off in jigsaw-like pieces.

Distribution

Main across southern Wisconsin to eastern Nebraska, south to eastern Texas, east to northern Florida.

Images

Click each small picture to see a larger image.

October, 2002 DE	October, 2002 AN	October, 2002 DE	October, 2002 DE	October, 2002 AN
March, 2003	March, 2003	March, 2003	March, 2003

Location

Western section of fitness trail, Loveless Park, South Locust Street, Carlinville, Macoupin County, IL.

Copyright

Photos © 2002 David Emmons and Alicia Nepute, Carlinville High School, linke@carlinvilleschools.net

References

Elbert L. Little, Field Guide to Trees:  Eastern Region, 1980, Alfred A. Knopf.

Robert H. Mohlenbrock, Forest Trees of Illinois, 1996, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

George D. Fuller and E. E. Nuuttila, Forest Trees of Illinois, 1955, Illinois Department of Conservation.

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