Platanus
Botanic name Common names Distribution Flowerheads Notes
Platanus × acerifolia ( P. occidentalis × P. orientalis ; syn . P. × hispanica , P. × hybrida ) London plane , hybrid plane Cultivated origin 1-6 Subgenus Platanus
Platanus chiapensis Chiapas plane southeast Mexico ? Subgenus Platanus
Platanus gentryi Gentry 's plane western Mexico ? Subgenus Platanus
Platanus kerrii Kerr 's plane Laos , Vietnam 10-12 Subgenus Castaneophyllum
Platanus mexicana Mexican sycamore , Mexican plane northeast and central Mexico 1-4 Subgenus Platanus
Platanus oaxacana Oaxaca plane southern Mexico ? Subgenus Platanus
Platanus occidentalis American sycamore , American plane , buttonwood , occidental plane , water beech eastern North America 1-2 Subgenus Platanus
Platanus occidentalis subsp . rzedowskii Rzedowski 's plane , Rzedowskii sycamore eastern Mexico 1-2 Subgenus Platanus
Platanus orientalis Oriental plane southeast Europe , southwest Asia 3-6 Subgenus Platanus
Platanus racemosa California sycamore , western sycamore , aliso California , Baja California 3-7 Subgenus Platanus
Platanus wrightii Arizona sycamore Arizona , New Mexico , northwest Mexico 2-4 Subgenus Platanus
Species
The following are recognized species of plane trees :
Platanus is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae. All members of Platanus are tall, reaching in height. All except for P. kerrii are deciduous, and most are found in riparian or other wetland habitats in the wild, though proving drought-tolerant in cultivation. The hybrid London plane (Platanus × acerifolia) has proved particularly tolerant of urban conditions, and has been widely planted in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom. They are often known in English as planes or plane trees. Some North American species are called sycamores (especially Platanus occidentalis), although the term sycamore also refers to the fig Ficus sycomorus, the plant originally so named, and to the sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus. The genus name Platanus comes from Ancient Greek , which referred to Platanus orientalis.