American Sycamore

Large Native ornamental
== AKA ==
Naked Christmas Tree, Deciduous Christmas Tree, American Planetree. 
== Desc ==
Large palmately veined maple like leaves. 3-5 lobes and up to or over 8" long and wide. They are usually among the last trees to leaf out in May. Sycamores are typically a sign of wetlands, as its their primary habitat. They also will grow in moist soil. They are most common by the river. A small ball of flowers forms in May with the leaves. This ball has green or red flowers on it. In fall, these balls are seeds. These seeds look like dandelion seeds, but bigger. They are brown. At least 100+ of these seeds make one ball. Balls are often seen in the trees long after the leaves fall in November. The ball fruits stay attached until falling off in Winter, when the seeds disperse. Some may break up on the tree, allowing the seeds to travel farther, from way up high. Bark is very showy with a greyish exfoliating bark, that exposes white under-bark. Bark on very old trunks looses its white color, becoming a dark grey, and mostly smooth. 
== General ==
90-140' Usually just about as wide as tall.
Grows mainly on riversides and wet soils. 
Probably the largest native tree. 
Fruit Balls in Fall and Winter. 
Pretty spikey buds. 
Zig-zag twigs. 
Large 3-5 lobed leaves. Category:Trees and Shrubs
Category:Nature