Plane tree, the lace-like wood

Although it is often confused with types of maple, which it closely resembles, the plane tree is a species in its own right. It's highly resistant to pollution, which is why it's also called the tree of capitals, lining the boulevards of major European cities. It grows tall, lives long and is often found in parks. As a wood, it is not of interest to the large woodworking industry, but it is highly prized by craftsmen and skilled carpenters for its lacy appearance. This special look is an invitation to learn more about plane tree.

Species of plane tree

The sycamore belongs to the genus Platanus. The best known representatives are the oriental plane tree (Platanus orientalis), native from southern central Europe and the Balkans south to Iran and India and western sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), native to eastern and central USA, northern Mexico and southern Canada (American Sycamore). But the most widespread is the hybrid Platanus acerifolia or hispanica, a hybrid formed naturally by planting the two species side by side.

Some sources say the hybrid plane tree originated in Spain, others give London gardens as the place of hybridization. In fact, it was even discovered in London in the mid-17th century, and the most common name you'll see it under is London plane (London plane tree). Other names are European plane, English plane, French plane or platane.

Hybrid plane is often confused with maple species such as Acer platanoides (maple, norway maple) or Acer pseudoplatanus (European Sycamore). But they belong to different families and there are elements that differentiate them.

The hybrid plane, a tree adapted to polluted cities

Hybrid plane is a hardier tree than its parent species. It is more drought tolerant than oriental plane and more resistant to frost and disease than American plane. It is light-loving, growing to 20-35m tall, but there are specimens that exceed 40m. The trunk is 1-1.5m in diameter but can reach up to 3m. It is highly resistant to pollution, with its rich crown and large leaves trapping large amounts of dust particles and other pollutants. The plane tree can live for hundreds of years, with specimens of Oriental plane trees that are over a thousand years old.

One characteristic of the plane tree, which distinguishes it from the maple (with which it closely resembles in leaf shape), is the exfoliation of the bark of the trunk in large slabs. The bark is greenish gray, smooth, but lighter, yellowish-gray patches of inner bark appear in the areas where the bark peels, giving the tree a camouflage-like appearance.

The leaves are large, palmate-lobed, with 3 or 5 straight triangular lobes or sparsely toothed, and the flowers are inflorescences clustered on a long stalk. The fruit, a 2-3 cm (2-3 cm) polychaeta hanging on a 15 cm (6 cm) stalk, ripens in the fall and remains on the tree over winter. In autumn, the plane tree's deciduous leaves change color to yellow-brown-orange and remain on the branches for a long time.

Plane trees are generally planted in parks or along streets, but they can also be forest plantations. Areas with loamy, loamy, moist soils are chosen, also preferred by plop, arin or willow.

Structure and properties of sycamore wood

As in maple and juniper, sapwood is predominant in sycamore. Its color is white to light reddish-brown with pinkish tinges, while the heartwood is reddish-brown. Immediately after cutting the color is more vivid, with bright pink tints, but it subsides as it dries. The medullary rays, which are very visible when cut radially, give the wood a lacy appearance (hence the name Lace woodThe texture is fine, uniform, maple-like and the fiber is usually straight. On areas with growth defects the fiber is uneven and peculiar, but much more difficult to process.

The pores are diffuse, small to medium-sized and numerous. They may be solitary or clustered, especially in radial section. The annual rings are visible, mainly due to the lighter color of the latewood and the decreased pore density in these areas. It has medium to very large medullary rays, visible to the naked eye and very widespread, which give the surface an interesting glossy, mirror-like appearance, like a mirror made up of many small mirrors.

The average density of dry plane is between 580 and 630 kg/m³. It is a fairly hard wood, not very rigid and with mechanical strength properties similar to oak. It is, however, very poorly resistant to water and insect attack, which is explainable considering that it is a sapwood, which is more porous. It is also the reason why it is not recommended for load-bearing structures or outdoor projects.

It dries fairly quickly, but it has a tendency to drop and warp. It is easily worked, both by hand and mechanically, but sharp tools should be used as hard medullary rays can cause problems. Turn, clamp and finish smoothly. The appearance after finishing is very interesting, sometimes resembling leather.

Uses

The most prized pieces of plane plane wood are the radial-cut ones because they have that lacy look. They are used to make small decorative objects or for pens. They are also used to make aesthetic veneers for musical instruments.

Plane tree is used to make flooring, plywood, furniture, handles, sports objects or packaging systems. It is turned into decorative bowls or carved into various small objects. It is not used in outdoor projects because it is not waterproof, rots easily and is attacked by insects.

It is a medium calorific firewood (50% of the calorific value of beech)It is recommended to use it in a mixture with other species. It is prone to cracking and sparking so it should be well dried and used only in stoves or for campfires. It is even dangerous to light damp wood, as cracking and sparks are very strong.

But the most important use of the plane tree is as a tree. It's a friend to city dwellers because it binds pollutants, and its rich shade is a real blessing on hot summer days.

I hope you find the above information interesting. If you have additional information or have worked with plane wood, please share your experience with us. And if you have any questions or queries, leave them below in the dedicated space. I will be sure to reply.