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Platanus occidentalis
  • Buttonwood

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Platanus genus in the family Platanaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Windbreak
    Windbreak
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Platanus occidentalis has 0 edible uses listed
Platanus occidentalis has 0 material uses listed
Platanus occidentalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

In hot dry climates the hairs of the fruits and leaves are believed to cause an effect similar to hay fever[1][2].

Edible uses

Notes

The sweet sap is tapped in the spring and used in the preparation of syrup and sugar[3][4][5].

Sap

Unknown use

Unknown part

Sweetener

Material uses

A fairly wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting[2]. Wood - coarse-grained, tough, strong, very durable, difficult to split[6][7][8]. Rather weak according to other reports[9][10]. It weighs 35lb per cubic foot[11], and is used for furniture, chopping boards etc[6][7][8][10]. Trunks of wild trees can be up to 4.5 metres in diameter and these were at one time hollowed out to make barges capable of carrying several tons of goods[12].

Unknown part

Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The inner bark is astringent, diuretic, emetic and laxative[13]. It has been used as a tea in the treatment of dysentery, coughs, colds, lung ailments, haemorrhages, measles, milky and difficult urination etc and also as a blood tonic[13][14]. Externally, it has been used as a wash on wounds[14]. An infusion of the bark and roots has been used as a foot soak for treating rheumatism[14].

The bark ooze has been used as a wash on infected sores and an infusion has been given in the treatment of infant rash[14].

An infusion of the bark, mixed with honey locust bark (Gleditsia triacanthos), has been used as a gargle to treat hoarseness and sore throat[14].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Astringent
Diuretic
Emetic
Laxative
Poultice
Salve

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Windbreak

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - two months cold stratification improves germination[15]. Sow spring in a cold frame in light shade[16][17]. Home grown seed is often of poor quality and low viability. It is best to harvest the seed in late winter or spring and then sow it immediately in a cold frame[18]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of mature wood of the current years growth, 20 - 30 cm with a heel, autumn in a cold frame[19]. Easy[2].

Layering of stools in spring or autumn. Takes 12 months[16].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Platanus occidentalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a deep moist loam[19], though it tolerates very wet, poorly drained soils[10]. Requires full sun[2]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and compacted soils[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant[2]. Fairly wind-resistant[2]. A fast-growing and long-lived tree[2][10], but it is of no value in Britain, being very susceptible to attack by parasitic fungi[1]. Fairly slow-growing according to another report, which also says that the tree is long-lived in the wild[9]. This species does not do well north of Central France, it requires long hot summers to fully ripen its wood[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Platanus occidentalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Platanus occidentalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Platanus occidentalis
Genus
Platanus
Family
Platanaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[13][14]
Material uses & Functions
[2][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Botanic
[1][20][2]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Windbreak
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
30 x 30 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious

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"image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  2. ? 2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.10 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.2 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.2 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.4 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.1 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.2 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.214.314.414.5 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  15. ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  17. ? Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
  18. ? McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  20. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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"image:Sycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Platanus_occidentalis&oldid=79486"
Facts about "Platanus occidentalis"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyPlatanaceae +
Belongs to genusPlatanus +
Functions asWindbreak +
Has common nameButtonwood +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partSap + and Unknown part +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Sweetener +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind + and Drought +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone5 +
Has imageSycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useWood +
Has mature height30 +
Has mature width30 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Astringent +, Diuretic +, Emetic +, Laxative +, Poultice + and Salve +
Has primary imageSycamore Platanus occidentalis.jpg +
Has search nameplatanus occidentalis + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy namePlatanus occidentalis +
Has water requirementshigh +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +