Stats

Lifespan: Up to 250 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Photosynthetic
Biome: Riparian woodland
Range: North America
Movement: Sessile
Breeding: Seeds
Defense: Armor
Status: Common

About

The western sycamore is a large native California tree that grows along stream banks and river bottoms, often reaching 35 metres tall. Its most striking feature is its mottled, camouflage-like bark that continually peels away in puzzle-piece patches to reveal fresh layers of cream, tan, and olive beneath.

Life cycle

1.
seed
A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2.
sprout
A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3.
sapling
A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4.
mature
Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Proteales
Family: Platanaceae
Genus: Platanus
Species: Platanus racemosa