Platanus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Platanus |
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| Leaves and fruit of a London plane | |
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Platanus
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Platanus is a group of plants, also known as planes or plane trees. These trees mostly grow in the northern parts of the world, called the Northern Hemisphere. They can grow very tall, usually between 30 and 50 meters (about 100 to 165 feet).
There are about eight to ten types of Platanus trees alive today. Scientists have also found at least three types that are now extinct (meaning they no longer exist). In English, these trees are often called planes or plane trees. Some types found in North America are called sycamores. However, be careful, because the name "sycamore" is also used for a type of fig tree.
London Plane Tree
The London plane tree, known scientifically as Platanus × acerifolia, is a special kind of tree. It's either a hybrid (meaning it's a mix of two different types of trees) or a cultivar (a plant that was developed by people). We're not completely sure which parent trees created it.
Before WWII, London plane trees were planted a lot on the streets of London. They were very popular because they can handle air pollution well. They also don't mind if their roots don't have much space, which is common in cities. This made them great trees for busy city roadsides.
However, these trees can sometimes cause a small problem. Tiny insects called aphids love to suck sap from their leaves. These aphids then drop a sticky, sugary liquid onto cars parked underneath the trees. Since many older London streets don't have much off-road parking, this can be a bit annoying for car owners!
Images for kids
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Bole of an aged Platanus, in Trsteno, near Dubrovnik, Croatia
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Ripe plane tree fruit
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Severe infections of anthracnose can sometimes defoliate large swaths of American sycamore forest during mid and late spring, but trees generally recover by mid-summer
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Patterned bark of London plane
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The 2045-year-old Platanus orientalis tree Tnjri in Nagorno-Karabakh.
See also
In Spanish: Platanáceas para niños
