Western Sycamor (Platanus racemosa) flower. Red female on the left. Green male flowewr on the right. Seeds are wind pollinated.
Sycamore flowers
Red, female on the left. Green, male on the right.
Seeds from the females will be spread by wind
Male inflorensence Platanus racemosa California Sycamore
Sycamore leaf in autumn. Platanus racemosa

Botanical drawing of California Sycamore, Platanus racemosa. From Hortus Third by Liberty Hyde Bailey.Platanus racemosa – California Sycamore

If you see a row of Sycamore trees in Southern California, you’re going to find a creek nearby. ‘Aliso” is the Spanish name for these trees. The word also refers to Alder trees, unrelated but also occurring near streams.

Platanus is the ancient Greek name for the European members of this genus.

This tree has a poem on these pages.