California sycamore Platanaceae Platanus racemosa Nutt.   symbol: PLRA
	Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, 5 to 10 inches long, palmately lobed (usually 3-5 lobes) with lobes about half as long as the leaf; hairy when young; petioles are long, swollen at their base, and hairy. Flower: Monoecious but imperfect, male and female flowers are tiny and borne in dense, round heads (like fuzzy marbles on a string). Fruit: Golf ball sized heads of tufted achenes; 3 to 7 hang on a long pendulous stalk designed to fracture at maturity; seeds are wind dispersed. Twig: Slender and covered with numerous fine hairs when young; becoming smooth and reddish brown with age. Terminal buds absent; lateral buds conical. Bark: The most striking feature of this tree. Young greenish-gray bark exfoliates leaving almost pure white inner bark; older bark is thicker (1 to 3 inches), furrowed, and dark brown. Form: A medium to tall tree (40 to 100 feet tall) that sometimes reaches 11 feet in diameter. Crown is open and rounded.
	USDA Plants Database Platanus racemosa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting California sycamore (opens a new window).