Sycamore

The largest deciduous tree in North America, sycamores in Texas can grow over 100 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter. They have stout trunks and massive, spreading limbs that form an oval or rounded crown. Their size and form make them highly distinctive.

Commonly found along streams and in rich bottomlands throughout eastern Texas. Also grows along major rivers of the Edwards Plateau and southwest into Maverick County.

Leaves are simple and alternate, 4 to 12 inches wide and roughly as long. They have 3 to 5 lobes with coarse teeth and bright green upper surfaces. Undersides are pale and hairy, and the base of the leaf stem is hollow, enclosing the winter bud.

Male and female flowers appear on the same tree in early spring as small, round clusters. They are about half an inch in diameter and not visually prominent.

Fruits are 1-inch round balls that dangle on flexible stalks 3 to 5 inches long. These break apart in early spring, releasing hairy nutlets dispersed by wind or water.

Young bark is smooth and greenish-gray or white. As the tree ages, the bark flakes off in irregular brown patches, revealing pale new bark beneath. The wood is moderately strong and used for items like butcher blocks and crates, but it decays quickly in the ground.

Mexican sycamore has fewer leaf teeth and a silvery underside. It is often planted in drier areas as an ornamental alternative.

The London planetree, a hybrid of sycamore, is widely used in urban settings and can be identified by having multiple fruit balls on a single stalk.