Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Trees ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Sycamore, Buttonwood,American Sycamore, American Planetree (Platanus occidentalis), Platanaceae Family, deciduous, blooms mid-spring through early summer

The American sycamore is sometimes confused with the several other trees in the same genus which are similar in appearance. If the tree has single seedpods, it is an American sycamore. If there are two seedpods together, it is a London planetree (Platanus X acerfolia). If there are 3-5 seedpods, it is an Oriental planetree (P. orientalis) which has the seedpods hanging like beads. All three have lobed maple-like leaves, but each is slightly different. American sycamore's leaf lobes are wider than long. London planetree's leaf lobes are about as wide as they are long. Oriental planetree's leaf lobes that are much longer than wide and deeply incised. London planetree is a hybrid between the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and the oriental planetree. It prefers moist, deep, rich soils in full sunl however, it is adaptable to a wide range of soils, including wet soils, dry soils, compacted soils and poor soils. If not receiving enough water and during very, very hot summers, the leaves will drop. It is a bit messy due to large leaves falling even in the summer, the seed balls, shedding bark and small twigs and branches that fall under it which have to be cleaned up.

Be careful where these trees are planted. The growing roots can clog sewers and damage sidewalks and driveways. The fallen leaves can clog drains. Also, be careful not to plant these fast growing trees too close to buildings and utility lines.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1607/index.html

The Platanus occidentalis sycamore showing its structure, bark and round, ball-like seedpods. The object 1/3 of the way up the tree to the right is not a wild animal. It is an old pinata.