A tall tree, with a spacious head. The bark breaks off in thin plates. Coarser twigs than those of the other maples, leaf-scars opposite, and large round buds. Distinctive characteristic is its green buds, which are green all winter.
This is the “sycamore tree” of Europe, and it is found here commonly planted in gardens and along roadsides.
NORWAY MAPLE
Acer platanoides
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It is distinguished from all other maples in winter by its unvarying green buds, and the manner in which the bark of old trees breaks off in thin, small, square pieces.
It is a favorite Scotch tree and was much planted about old estates in Scotland. Over two hundred years ago, the powerful barons in the West of Scotland used these sycamores for hanging their enemies and refractory vassals on, and these trees were called dool, or grief trees. Loudon tells the romantic histories of several dool trees which were still standing in 1844.
The wood is used in Europe for toys and other small articles, and experiments have been made with the sap, and sugar has been obtained in small quantities.
The name pseudo-platanus—false plane—was given to it on account of a fancied resemblance to the plane tree.
