Sycamore tree fruits. Sycamore tree: description, how many years it lives. Use of plane tree on the farm

Sycamore is a fast-growing tree, widely used in landscaping gardens and parks. It has numerous positive qualities and has been familiar since time immemorial. In folk medicine it is used to treat many ailments. For example, an infusion of leaves is used for conjunctivitis, a decoction of the roots is used as a hemostatic agent and for snake bites.

Botanical description and species

Sycamore - tall tree with a luxurious spreading crown, with a powerful trunk with a circumference of up to 18 m and a height of up to 50 m. The evergreen tree (Platanus kerrii) is an exceptional species. The bark is emerald-gray, flaking, mottled. In autumn, a tree can be recognized only by its speckled bark, which gradually crumbles into visible plates, creating an original pattern. Every year, and at a fairly rapid pace, the tops of the young shoots fall off, leaving behind a darkish scar above the bud. Depending on the position on the tree and age, the leaves vary greatly in shape and size.

The fruits are multi-nuts (green-brown in color), remaining on the tree all winter and breaking up in the spring into individual nuts, carried by the wind or birds. Seeds are few in number, with endosperm. The fruits ripen with the onset of autumn, they are edible and are called “planariki”. The plant is long-lived and begins to bear fruit from the age of six. It is worth noting the fact that on the territory of the Republic of Turkey there grows a huge plane tree with a trunk diameter of 42 meters and an age of more than 2300 years! Which is still considered a landmark of the country to this day.

Breeds propagate using cuttings, seeds and grafting. Species and genera are recognized by the hairiness of the leaves, dissection and shape of the fruit.

Place of distribution

Habitat - United States of America(USA), Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. In addition to great diversity, there are wild and cultivated types, hybrids. Uncultivated species of plane tree grow in America: Platanus mexicana, Platanus chiapensis, Platanus rzedowskii, Platanus wrightii. The evergreen Kerra tree grows only in Vietnam and Laos. Other types of deciduous trees are adapted and cultivated: these are settlements, squares and parks. Western plane tree (Platanus occidentalis) is acclimatized in Europe. It is found in the Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus, Krasnodar and Stavropol areas, Dagestan and Adygea.

The eastern plane tree is a relict (tertiary), which today is considered an endangered species. It is sometimes found in Asia, Crimea, Armenia (for example, in the Tsavsky reserve there is even a grove with an area of ​​more than 50 hectares). Wild species grow on river banks, on plains, among mountainous forests, preferring moist alluvial soil. They are found both in groups and in single specimens, creating a special beauty of groves.

Raw material procurement process

The roots, leaves and bark are used for medicinal purposes:

• The leaves are collected in the spring, and then dried in the shade, crushed and placed in cotton bags. Shelf life is no more than 2 years.
• Rhizomes are harvested in the spring, before the start of the growing season, or in late autumn. Small roots are freed from soil and other impurities and dried for two days. Next, they are crushed into a dusty mass and stored for no more than two years.
• For supplies, separated bark that has already fallen off is suitable, but the best option would be to release the plate with your own hands, that is, from a tree trunk with a sharpened knife. Dry the bark in a dryer or in the attic. Store in fabric bags (no more than 2 years).

History and Application

The plane tree is one of the largest trees on our globe. About plane trees, it is written in tales and legends. By the way, they were previously associated with the worship of such gods as Hercules, Apollo and Dionysus. Indeed, these images will be extremely relevant for understanding the culture of the turn of the century. Even the ancient Romans and Greeks admired these amazing trees, who used their healing properties to cure various ailments. The indigenous people placed lotus wreaths on the branches of the tree.

Cyclopean species guarantee dark freshness thanks to their extensive branching. In particular, centuries-old plane trees have a hollow in the trunk, where several people can hide from the sultry heat or rain. In Greece on the island. A mighty plane tree grows in Kos. The diameter of the trunk is 14−15 meters, the age of the tree is more than 2000 years. In ancient times, it was called the “eastern maple”, since there was a similarity with the Norway maple, and in our time it is called the Hippocratic plane tree.

Oriental plane tree is an expensive tree species (with a well-defined texture) for cultivation in foothill, lowland and steppe regions with a dense irrigation network, as well as for landscaping oases and irrigation ditches. The wood is used in shipbuilding, for the production of furniture, plywood, parquet and small crafts.

Sycamore, plane tree, oriental maple - these names are used to describe a majestic tree that grows in many countries with warm climates. In Europe, these are Italy, Greece, and the states of the Balkan Peninsula. In the Mediterranean - the islands of Crete and Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan. Sycamore is found in the river valleys of Asia Minor and floodplain forests of Azerbaijan. The tree's habitat covers Indochina, Australia and even North America. The plane tree is also found in Russia under the name eastern maple. It is most widespread in Central Asia, where it has been cultivated for one and a half millennia and is called plane tree.

In general, we can distinguish 3 main regions where this wonderful tree grows or is cultivated:

1. Central Asian region (plane tree).
2. North America (western sycamore).
3. Europe (hybrid sycamore).

Sycamore is a tree from the plane family, 25–30 m high (some specimens reach 50 m), with a wide, knotty trunk and spreading crown. The sycamore leaf is similar to a maple leaf, with sharp narrowed edges, and the leaf petioles are long. The thick, multi-layered bark is light gray or greenish-gray. In autumn, the top layer of bark falls off. After flowering, small greenish balls can be seen on the tree, which eventually form a fruit. The fruits of the plane tree ripen in the spring and February-March crumble; The contents of the fruit - brown nuts - can be eaten.

The twigs and branches of the plane tree form a dense crown, which, given the size of the tree itself, provides shade over a significant area. Even in ancient times, Central Asian plane trees were planted along irrigation ditches, near mosques and tombs - wherever a large number of people needed shelter from the scorching heat. There is a legend about a tree, under the shade of which a hundred horsemen could sit.

This property defined the tree as a decorative park tree. Many gardens and streets of Tashkent, Samarkand and other cities of the East are decorated with powerful stovburs of plane trees. Recently, there has been a tendency towards an increase in sycamore plantings, which should replace less durable species in cities: poplar, maple, acacia.

Based on individual characteristics, three main types are distinguished:

1. Platanus orientalis.
2. Platanus occidentalis.
3. Platanus hispanica.

Gallery: plane tree (25 photos)

Main varieties

It is worth taking a closer look at some types of wood.

How to grow sycamore from seeds

Eastern maple can be grown by cuttings or layering (for cultivated plantings) or use the year-round germination that nature has provided. The seed sprouts directly from pre-prepared soil: the soil needs to be loosened and fertilized to allow the tree to reproduce in more comfortable conditions. A description of how to grow a plane tree from seeds can be found on websites dedicated to landscape design.

When choosing a place where the eastern plane tree will grow, it is necessary to provide the necessary distance from buildings and structures. The powerful root system of this giant tree can damage even a strong foundation.

Use in economic activities

The eastern maple has a lush, beautiful crown, which is why this species is used in the decoration of garden and park plantings. With skillful crowning, a plane tree can give a garden or park the look it needs for a landscape or form its basis. The original coloring of the wood allows the plane tree to be used for the needs of the woodworking industry. The main color of the wood is red, from pinkish-white to coffee shade. The unique texture allows the use of valuable wood in the manufacture of artistic and decorative products, for finishing halls and offices, and for the manufacture of exclusive furniture.

The physical and mechanical properties of eastern maple wood are ideal for processing. It is light, has sufficient density and hardness. The material is well cut, polished and ground. Veneer is in great demand. However, with many positive properties, this wood is susceptible to rotting and warping, which complicates the process of its preparation.

The bark of the eastern maple, its roots and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. The pharmacological properties of the tree are due to its special chemical composition.

• A decoction of the roots is used as a hemostatic agent.
• The bark has anti-inflammatory properties, helps with viral infections and stomach diseases.
• An infusion of leaves helps with conjunctivitis.
• Also known in folk medicine are the healing properties of an ointment prepared from the ashes left after burning the bark. External use of this ointment is indicated for burns.

The fast-growing, unpretentious plane tree is an indispensable attribute of folklore among many peoples of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Chinara, as a symbol of longevity and majesty, is found in songs, legends and folk tales, occupying a worthy place among ancient cult symbols.

Plane tree wood is valuable and rare - not every craftsman manages to work with it. Such characteristics of sycamore wood as its external resemblance to snake skin make it in demand for decorative and finishing works.

Sycamore: main characteristics

Sycamore belongs to the sycamore family; there are 10 species in the genus. These are hybrids distributed from Indochina to the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as in North America.

All plane trees are large trees that can live up to 2 thousand years. They are characterized by a wide dense crown, a high - up to 50 meters, and a wide - up to 17 meters in circumference - trunk. The trunk is noticeable in that the bark on it peels off to a height of up to 25 meters, and the trunk itself has a cylindrical shape.

Sycamore leaves are similar to maple leaves - palmate-lobed, growing on long petioles. The fruit of the tree is a multi-nut.

In our latitudes, plane trees are not found very often. This is a slightly frost-resistant plant, susceptible to the influence of biological factors - rotting, pests. However, in areas with a favorable climate, plane trees are widely used as pioneer trees, for reclamation, landscaping, and protection from smoke and gas. And, of course, for decorative purposes - few people will be indifferent to the majestic knotty body of the plane tree.

Plane wood: physical and mechanical characteristics

Sycamore wood is comparable to wood or. This is a heartwood species, the sapwood is grayish, the core is reddish-brown in color, there is no contrasting transition between the sapwood and the core. The annual layers are almost invisible. The texture of sycamore wood is formed by wide false rays, which are clearly visible when cut. It is worth noting that texture and color can vary greatly even within one trunk, not to mention plane trees grown in different climatic conditions.

The density of plane tree wood is 650-700 kg/cubic meter. It is a moderately light and hard rock, with densely but evenly distributed fibers. The Brinell strength is 3.9. The cut reveals fibers that are darker in color than the rest of the wood. – granular, speckled, and sometimes the so-called “spectacled sycamore” gives an incredibly beautiful texture due to the zones of nodes located along the cut surface.

Another property of sycamore wood is shine.

Plane wood: processing

Plane tree wood is well polished, after which the surface has a shiny shine. Plane tree wood cuts well, without chips, but It doesn't bend very well.

Plane wood is processed under less “capricious” conditions than other hardwoods; it does not crack. But there is a possibility of warping (this is especially true for veneer). This is a medium-drying breed.

After steam treatment, sycamore wood acquires a dark burgundy color.

Products made from plane tree are able to stably retain their shape and size - if drying was carried out correctly. However, you should not place products made from sycamore wood outdoors or in a room with a high level of humidity - as already mentioned, this material has low biostability.

Plane wood: application

The use of sycamore wood is determined by its rich, variegated texture. These are, first of all, all kinds of crafts.

In carpentry and furniture production, the use of sycamore wood is extensive due to the rarity of the species and the high cost of raw materials. Not only the trunk and branches of the tree are used, but also the roots, which are yellowish-white or reddish in color. Working with sycamore roots requires some skill.

Plane tree is very prized - it resembles snakeskin. The cost of such veneer is quite impressive, and you can rarely find it.

Plane tree wood serves as a material for exclusive parquet flooring, paneling, inlays, mosaics, marquetry, and is used in model making.

But do not forget that the plane tree is a plant listed in the Red Book, so its beauty should be admired only in unique things and interior items, but not in solid wood furniture.

Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board, correspondent of the online publication "AtmWood. Wood-Industrial Bulletin"

How useful was the information for you?

What is a plane tree or, in other words, a sycamore tree, which belongs to the deciduous ornamental plants of the Platanaceae family (platane). Endowed with a strong large trunk, with a diameter of about 18 m. It can reach a height of up to 60 meters. From Latin “platos” is translated as wide. In Turkey and Persia, the plane tree is usually called plane tree.

Description and characteristics

Sycamore in the park

You can meet this frost-resistant, fast-growing tree anywhere in the world. In countries where a warm climate prevails, a dense, wide crown saves both city dwellers and rural residents from the scorching rays of the sun.

The tree blooms in early spring and pleases others with its flowering for a relatively short time. You can see flowers on a tree, collected in groups of 3-6 pieces, from April until June.

The oriental tree contains flowers of different sexes, which are collected in different inflorescences.

Thus, male inflorescences, which include from 2 to 6 flowers, are colored in yellow-green shades, while female inflorescences are collected in crimson inflorescences with 2-5 flowers.

Plane trees for the city

The Chinara tree gets along well in areas with polluted air, but at the same time it sheds the top layer of bark. Once this process begins, large plates fall off the tree, leaving behind light yellow, yellow and gray areas. This allows the tree to free itself from clogged parts that prevent it from being saturated with oxygen, which leads to the opening of the respiratory pores.

You can see lichen on the city plane tree, which shows that the environment is polluted.

Myths and legends

Throughout the planet you can find a wide variety of plants, which are described in various chronicles. Sycamore is a historical representative, also related to such plants, since the history of this culture begins about 2 thousand years ago.

There is a story that tells about the gardener of the English king Charles 1. John Tradescant, as he was called, often traveled to the New World from 1642 to 1654, from where he once brought three different trees, including Platanus. Since some specimens of this tree have been growing in the British Isles for more than 300 years, we can assume that this story is true.

In ancient times the tree was called " eastern maple" The reason for this was a sycamore leaf, which is very similar to maple leaves. But don’t think that these are the same tree. Sycamore differs from maple in its large size and long lifespan, and is also one of the most gigantic trees on the entire planet. Once upon a time it was possible to come across trees whose size could be shocking, since about 100 people could hide under the spreading dense crown of such a plane tree. Many poems, verses and stories were written about the plane tree in which these immense trees had their own names and names.

What types of plane trees can you find?

Sycamore sycamore

spotted trunk

In total, there are several deciduous and evergreen specimens in the plane tree genus.

The largest number of representatives can be found in North America, Asia Minor and Europe. In the Caucasus you can see trees whose age is approximately 2 thousand years.

But the oldest tree of this species, which is about 2300 years old, grows in Turkey. The height of this specimen exceeds 42 meters, and the circumference of its trunk is wider than 13.5 meters.

Decorative forms of sycamore that are especially popular are:

1. pyramidal
2. variegated
3. grape-leaved
4. Suttner

There are about 10 varieties of this plant found in the world.

• Eastern sycamore

A tall deciduous tree, the height of which varies from 25 to 30 meters, and the diameter of the trunk can be about 12 meters. The widely scattered and rather loose crown is located quite low. Winding branches diverge from the powerful trunk to the sides at right angles. The lower branches reach towards the ground.

• Chinara western

This deciduous species is common in North America. It can reach a height of up to 35 meters, the bark has a light shade. It has amazing frost resistance and is able to cope with temperatures of about -35 degrees. It is not picky about the composition of the soil, but it loves moisture. Drought can be fatal for this tree.

• Common view

A hybrid based on the eastern and western plane trees. Its height can reach 40 meters. Endowed with a wide trunk and a rounded crown. It is not difficult to propagate and grow this species. Found in Europe and America.

What are "chinariki"? These are the fruits of the plane tree, which are quite tasty and edible, and are called by an affectionate nickname - small “plane trees”.

How to properly plant and care for a tree

Chinariki

These trees are planted in autumn and spring. Chinara will grow well in sunny areas. It is a warm and moisture-loving tree. But at the same time, plane tree does not require any special soil.

Advice! But if you want the tree to grow better, plant it in an area with loose, mineral-rich soil, which should be regularly watered abundantly. With the onset of intense summer heat, increase watering.

In order to enjoy plane trees in central Russia, you need to find species that best tolerate frost. In the southern regions, it is best to plant trees near bodies of water.

Regular pruning is essential for the tree. Thanks to this procedure, you can get rid of damaged shoots. You also need to trim the crown in order to give it a decorative look.

Sycamore does not need mineral fertilizers. Of course, a young plant will respond well to such feeding, but there is no need to over-saturate the soil with minerals. Chinara feels great if the soil is drained and can allow oxygen to pass through.

How does one cope with winter?

With the onset of winter, almost all varieties, shedding their foliage, still remain beautiful and do not lose their unusualness. The tree trunk with its knots visible also looks unforgettable. The bark peeling off in uneven plates reveals all the mystery of the tree.

Among the many varieties, there are also varieties that do not tolerate frost well and need to be prepared for wintering. Using pine branches, sawdust or leaves, mulch the plane tree roots. This is a tree that can easily adapt to any place and get used to even polluted oxygen.

How does it reproduce

Most novice gardeners are interested in how propagation occurs. There are the following ways by which you can increase the number of plane trees:

• Self-seeding

A variant that a tree uses to reproduce in its natural environment. Here you will not make any effort, because the sycamore that produces the fruits from which the seeds fall out will do everything himself.

• How to grow sycamore from seeds.

Sycamore fruits

One of the most popular types of reproduction.

With the onset of autumn, it is necessary to collect velvet nuts and place them in a fabric bag, which must be buried in the ground. The temperature at which the seeds need to be kept in this state should not fall below 0, but also not exceed 10 degrees.

Vernalization is the name of this unusual procedure, which allows you to harden and disinfect seeds.

Once the process is complete, you can plant the seeds in separate, well-drained pots.

When the seedlings begin to sprout, do not forget to provide them with moderate watering.

Plane tree (plane tree) is a deciduous ornamental tree of the Platanaceae family. It has a powerful trunk, the circumference of which can reach 18 m, and the height - 60 m. Translated from Latin, “platos” means “wide”.

The plane tree is widespread: it is found in Europe, Asia and America. Chinara is a long-lived tree; specimens over 2 thousand years old grow in the Caucasus. After planting, it grows very quickly during the first few years and does not require much care. It propagates by root shoots, but is more often grown from seeds. Several varieties of plane tree grow in Russia.

There are about 10 known species of sycamore that grow throughout the world.

Sycamore- a hybrid of western and eastern plane trees. Its height reaches 40 m. It has a wide trunk and a rounded crown. Easy to propagate and grow quickly. Distributed in America and Europe. Cultivated since the 17th century. The most popular decorative forms:

• pyramidal;
• variegated;
• Suttner;
• grape-leaved.

Western plane tree is a deciduous tree common in North America. Its height does not exceed 35 m, the bark is light in color. Frost-resistant hybrid, capable of withstanding frosts not lower than -35 degrees. It is undemanding to soil, but needs regular watering because it does not tolerate drought well.

Oriental plane tree - plane tree. A fast-growing tree, mainly growing in the Caucasus. Is a long-liver. Its fruits are edible, and they are called “chinariki”. The tree's seeds remain viable for one year if properly stored. Less frost-resistant than P. vulgare and P. occidentalis.

Planting and care

Tree planting is carried out in spring or autumn. Sycamore prefers sunlight, warmth and regular watering. Meanwhile, the tree is completely unpretentious to the composition of the soil.

Advice. But still, plane tree will grow more actively in loose soil rich in minerals with abundant watering. In dry times, the amount of watering should be increased.

In warm regions, eastern sycamore is planted along water sources.

The tree can be pruned both to remove damaged branches and for decorative trimming.

Not all types of plane trees are equally frost-resistant. Therefore, it is worth preparing them for wintering. To do this, the roots need to be mulched with pine branches, sawdust or leaves. Chinara adapts perfectly to the environment; it even adapts to urban polluted air.

Sycamore is not susceptible to attack by pests, and diseases also do not affect it.

Fertilizer

As for fertilizing, there is absolutely no need for mineral fertilizers. At a young age, the plane tree may respond positively to feeding. But there is no need to fertilize already fertile soil. After all, sycamore grows well only on well-ventilated, drained soil enriched with minerals and other organic matter.

Reproduction

Many people wonder how to grow a sycamore tree. There are several options for growing this long-lived plant.

1. Self-seeding
2. Growing from seeds.
3. Cuttings.
4. Planting root shoots.
5. With pegs.

The first option is common in nature, when the process occurs without human intervention. The most popular method of propagating sycamore is considered growing from seeds. To do this, velvety nuts are collected in the fall, then placed in a fabric bag and buried in the ground. The temperature should be from 0 to 10 degrees. This procedure is called vernalization - hardening and disinfection. After this, the seeds can be planted in separate containers with drainage. The seedlings will grow very quickly. Moderate watering during their growth period is very important.

Another popular method of reproduction is cuttings. The cuttings are placed in a container with water and sent to a cool place where the temperature varies from 3 to 6 degrees. In the spring, after the buds swell, the cuttings can be transplanted into open ground.

Attention! When planting cuttings in the ground, adding black washed sand is necessary.

The remaining options are used a little less frequently, because they are not as effective as the seed method.

Application of plane tree

Previously, the tree played the role of a piece of paradise in desert areas. Under its spreading branches one could hide from the scorching rays of the sun. Plane tree wood is highly valued; it is used for various purposes: decorating car interiors, making furniture, etc.

Chinara is also used as a folk medicine. It has hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In some recipes it was used for reptile bites. In Europe, plane tree was smoked as tobacco. The leaves and bark of the tree are used for various lotions.

In landscape design, plane trees are planted to decorate parks, gardens and public gardens.

Sycamore is a tall, long-living plant. An unpretentious tree. There are a large number of ways to reproduce it. But growing from seeds is still considered the most effective. Loves sun, warmth and moisture. Mainly grows on fertile soils. It is winter-hardy, but needs to be insulated for the winter, so most species grow in the southern regions.

Planting frost-resistant plane trees: video