Platanus

The genus Platanus includes about 10 species of deciduous trees with a high powerful trunk (25-30 m, sometimes up to 50 m) and a dense broad crown. Leaves alternate simple, palmate-lobed; young-with pubescence. The flowers are small and unisexual: male flowers are collected in axillary inflorescences female flowers are collected in larger purple terminal inflorescences-spherical heads on long peduncles. They bloom in April and May. The fruit is a multi-root, first green, then brownish. Fruits are kept on the plant all winter in the spring they break up into fractions and are carried by the wind. Sycamore trees are long - lived, and they are also characterized by rapid growth and resistance to environmental pollution. Sycamores are almost impossible to confuse with other trees due to the greenish, peeling bark plates, in place of which a new light one is formed. The eastern plane tree, or plane tree (Platanus orientalis), is a powerful tree with a spreading crown. It blooms in spring at the same time as the leaves open. The bark peels off in large plates. This sycamore tree tolerates environmental pollution worse than others. It is widely distributed in the culture. Western sycamore (P. occidentalis) is characterized by light bark and large decorative leaves. It is not widely distributed in Europe. A hybrid maple-leaved sycamore (Platanus x acerifolia, or Platanus x hybrida) is grown everywhere, obtained by crossing eastern sycamore and western sycamore; this hybrid is distinguished by leaf spotting.

The genus Platanus includes about 10 species of deciduous trees with a high powerful trunk (25-30 m, sometimes up to 50 m) and a dense broad crown. Leaves alternate simple, palmate-lobed; young-with pubescence. The flowers are small and unisexual: male flowers are collected in axillary inflorescences female flowers are collected in larger purple terminal inflorescences-spherical heads on long peduncles. They bloom in April and May. The fruit is a multi-root, first green, then brownish. Fruits are kept on the plant all winter in the spring they break up into fractions and are carried by the wind.

Sycamore trees are long - lived, and they are also characterized by rapid growth and resistance to environmental pollution. Sycamores are almost impossible to confuse with other trees due to the greenish, peeling bark plates, in place of which a new light one is formed.

The eastern plane tree, or plane tree (Platanus orientalis), is a powerful tree with a spreading crown. It blooms in spring at the same time as the leaves open. The bark peels off in large plates. This sycamore tree tolerates environmental pollution worse than others. It is widely distributed in the culture.

Western sycamore (P. occidentalis) is characterized by light bark and large decorative leaves. It is not widely distributed in Europe.

A hybrid maple-leaved sycamore (Platanus x acerifolia, or Platanus x hybrida) is grown everywhere, obtained by crossing eastern sycamore and western sycamore; this hybrid is distinguished by leaf spotting.

Cultivation

Sycamores are grown mainly as garden trees. They are planted in the ground in autumn (October-November) in cold areas or in late winter (February - March) in temperate climates. Although the plant tolerates even significant pruning well, it is better not to touch it, because it initially has a very elegant natural appearance. They are usually limited to removing dry or poorly growing branches. By the way, pruning increases the likelihood of getting cancer.

Location

Sycamores prefer open sun.

Temperature

The plant is resistant to both high and low temperatures.

Watering

It is necessary to water only young plants-seedlings immediately after planting in a permanent place or during a prolonged drought.

Reproduction

Propagate by seeds, cuttings, layers. The most common method (especially for hybrid maple - leaved sycamore) is sowing in April. Sow seeds with a reserve, i.e. in large quantities, since their germination rate is very low, in the seed soil in a cool place. After germination, when the seedlings get stronger, they are planted singly in pots, the next 3-4 years are periodically transplanted into new containers of increasing size, then planted finally. For cuttings in early autumn from the shoots of the current year, take twigs 25 cm long, plant in a mixture of sand and peat in equal parts and kept in a cool place. After the roots appear, the cuttings are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm, and in the future, they are treated in the same way as with seedlings.

Diseases

In recent years, the number of sycamores everywhere has begun to decline. This is partly due to a disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, a cancer of the sycamore tree, in which large parts of the plant dry up. Then browned areas appear on the trunk. It is almost impossible to deal with this misfortune, and the infected plant should be disposed of. Currently, nurseries are trying to select species that are resistant to this disease. Another fungal disease caused by Gnomonia veneta, or Glonomonia platani, is anthracnose, in which browning and small lesions (notches and cracks) appear along the leaf veins and longitudinal cracks on the branches. Anthracnose is treated (but only while the plants are young) with appropriate fungicides. The most unpleasant pest - Corythuca ciliata - is a small insect that overwinters under the bark plates, and in the spring and summer period it sucks juice from the leaves. With extensive infection, yellowing of the entire crown is observed. In addition, apparently, the insect is also a carrier of dangerous fungal infections. It is quite difficult to deal with it, since insecticide treatment is feasible for plants only at a young age, on adult trees pests hide under the bark.

In recent years, the number of sycamores everywhere has begun to decline. This is partly due to a disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, a cancer of the sycamore tree, in which large parts of the plant dry up. Then browned areas appear on the trunk. It is almost impossible to deal with this misfortune, and the infected plant should be disposed of. Currently, nurseries are trying to select species that are resistant to this disease.

Another fungal disease caused by Gnomonia veneta, or Glonomonia platani, is anthracnose, in which browning and small lesions (notches and cracks) appear along the leaf veins and longitudinal cracks on the branches.

Anthracnose is treated (but only while the plants are young) with appropriate fungicides. The most unpleasant pest - Corythuca ciliata - is a small insect that overwinters under the bark plates, and in the spring and summer period it sucks juice from the leaves. With extensive infection, yellowing of the entire crown is observed. In addition, apparently, the insect is also a carrier of dangerous fungal infections. It is quite difficult to deal with it, since insecticide treatment is feasible for plants only at a young age, on adult trees pests hide under the bark.

Acquisition

Sycamores are purchased quite easily in specialized gardening centers and nurseries. Since they tolerate transplanting well, it is quite possible to use plants with an unprotected root system, which are cheaper.