Sycamore, << SIHK uh mawr, >> is a shade tree with reddish-brown wood. It grows in fertile lowlands and along streams. The American sycamore is found in great numbers in the United States from southern Maine to Nebraska and as far south as Texas and Florida. This tree may reach a height of 175 feet (53 meters) and be 14 feet (4 meters) through the trunk. The bark on the lower trunk is reddish-brown, and the bark on the branches is olive-green. The bark on the branches breaks off in tiny scales. When these scales break off, they show an inner bark that is light cream in color. This light bark gives rise to the phrase “hoary-antlered sycamore.” Some sycamores are known as buttonwoods, others as plane trees.
A sycamore tree can be recognized by its leaves, which are broad and have large teeth. The stem of each leaf is hollow at the base where it encloses the next year’s bud. The flowers of a sycamore are of two types, those that bear stamens and those that bear pistils. Each type of flower grows in separate flower heads on different parts of the same tree. The fruits of a sycamore are borne in small balls which hang from drooping stems. Each ball is made up of many tiny dry fruits tightly packed together. The fruits are known as achenes.
