Sycamore

Acer pseudoplatanus

• Not a native tree, it is now naturalised, which means that it self seeds around the country.
• In the same family as the maple of maple syrup. It has the distinct five pointed leaves of all acers and the Canadian flag.
• It branches out with opposites, at 90 degrees to the last branch, creating a distinctive shape in the winter. Ash also does this and can be a winter confusion species, ash has black buds, whereas sycamore has green buds.
• Well know by children for the helicopters it produces at the end of summer. These seed transportation devices have a sticky bit, either side of the seed, and can be stuck to noses like confused unicorns!
• The leaves are often covered in aphids throughout the summer. These small creatures suck the sugary sap out the leaves of the tree, and excrete a large volume of it too. Not a good tree to leave a car under.
• Its wood is relatively easy to carve it is also slightly anti-bacterial and anti-fungal so a good one for cooking utensils. I remember it as it stops you getting sick-any-more.