The plane trees are a kind of Arbre S of the family of the Platanacée S which includes/understands approximately ten most widespread Espèce S. is a Hybride, the common Platane largely used like Arbre of alignment to decorate the places and the streets.

Etymology: of the Greek platanos , platus , broad.

General characteristics

The plane trees are large Arbre S, being able to reach from 30 to 50 m in height, from which the general characteristics differ little from one species to another. They have one rather long lifespan (several hundred years, even 1000 years and more).

Their characteristic bark fissures in scales called Rhytidomes releasing from the yellowish zones letting appear cork. The aspect of snakeskin of the bark is rather particular.

The sheets are null and void, alternate, rather large (from 15 to 25 cm length), almost as broad as long and of rather firm consistency, even coriace. They are with pedalled nervation and count three, five or seven acute lobes more or less deeply separate. These sheets point out those of some maple S, but the distinction is easy to make, the maple sheets being always opposite on the stem and having a webbed nervation.

The flowers, very small are deprived of chalice and corolla. It are joined together in globulous kittens or flowerheads. They flower rather early (in May in the northern hemisphere).

The fruits are Akène S, generally hairy joined together in hanging balls which mature with the autumn.

Wood is hard and heavy, of color brown rosy.

Distribution

The plane trees are species originating in the hot moderate areas of the northern hemisphere.

The plane tree of Occident and the plane tree of the East, very close relations by their morphological characteristics, have quite distinct surfaces of distribution (North America for the first, Balkans and Turkey for the second). They are species known as vicarious.

Largely used as trees of alignment, they were spread by the culture. Out of their zone of origin, and downtown in particular, they are trees particularly low in lodged biodiversity.

Principal species

• Platanus ×acerifolia (Aiton) Willd., the common Plane tree
• Platanus mexicana Moric.
• Platanus occidentalis L., the Plane tree of Occident
• Platanus orientalis L., the Plane tree of the East
• Platanus racemosa Nutt., the Plane tree of California
• Platanus wrightii S. Watson

Use

• Tree ornamental: several species are planted like urban Tree ornamental and alignment along the streets and roads. In fact trees support the pruning well and the living conditions in urban environment.

• Production of wood: the wood of the plane trees, clearly, hard and firm, can be used in Menuiserie. It resembles the wood of the beech and resists better than the wood of beech moisture, but is more easily attacked by the insects. The Aubier is distinguished little from the heart.

Regarded as being difficult to work, it is employed little, except in the East; one can do of them work of cabinet work, joinery, cartwright trade; in Europe, it is useful especially for the interiors of pieces of furniture (racks, drawers). However, the obliquely cut boards, whose moire surface is very decorative, could be more used.

Legends and traditions

In Greek mythology, the plane tree is a symbol of regeneration (the bark regenerating itself by plates). It would have been used to build the Trojan horse. The Noces of plane tree symbolize the 61 years of Mariage.

The plane tree in the culture

• the Large Plane trees , by Vincent Van Gogh, oil on fabric of 1889, 73,4 X 91,8 cm, with the Cleveland Museum off Art, gift of the Hanna Fund

Diseases of the plane trees

August 1st

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