Sycamore  (Acer pseudoplatanus)

The sycamore is a well-known tree, thought to have been introduced to Britain from Europe in the 15th or 16th Century (3). The domed crown is often broader than it is tall, as it can become very widely spread. The bark is grey and fissured, forming rectangular plates; orange patches may be revealed as these plates peels away. The dark green five-lobed leaves turn a deep golden-yellow colour in autumn (4). Both the shape and size of the leaves vary with the age of the tree (2). During April, many yellowish flowers grow in narrow, drooping heads (2). The paired, winged fruits are known to children as 'helicopters' in England because of their propeller-like path of descent (3).