Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Plantae > Magnoliophyta > Magnoliopsida > Platanaceae > Platanus > Platanus occidentalis
The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), also known as American plane and Buttonwood, is one of the species of Platanus native to North America, where it is rather confusingly often just called Sycamore, which can refer to other types of tree.
It forms a massive tree, typically reaching up to 30-40 metres high. In its native range, it is often found in riparian and wetland areas. The range extends from Iowa to Ontario and Maine in the north, Nebraska in the west, and south to Texas to Florida. Closely related species (see Platanus) occur in Mexico and the southwestern states of the U.S.A. It is sometimes grown for timber, and has become naturalised in some areas outside its native range. It has been planted at Ottawa, and is sold as far south as Okeechobee. It is frequently seen in parts of the Pacific Northwest.
American sycamore is susceptible to Plane anthracnose disease (Apiognomonia veneta, syn. Gnomonia platani), an introduced fungus naturally found on the Oriental plane P. orientalis, which has evolved considerable resistance to the disease. Although rarely killed or even seriously harmed, American sycamore is commonly partially defoliated by the disease, rendering it unsightly as a specimen tree. As a result, American sycamore is not often planted; the more resistant London plane (P. x hispanica; hybrid P. occidentalis x P. orientalis) being preferred instead.
More on [ American sycamore ]
Why Current Publication Practices May Distort Science
John Ioannidis and colleagues argue that the current system of publication in biomedical research provides a distorted view of the reality of scientific data.
Faecal and Urinary Incontinence after Multimodality Treatment of Rectal Cancer
Marilyne Lange and Cornelis van de Velde discuss the differential diagnosis and management of incontinence after rectal cancer treatment.
SLC2A9 Is a High-Capacity Urate Transporter in Humans
Mark Caulfield and colleagues show that the SLC2A9 gene, which encodes a facilitative glucose transporter, is also a high-capacity urate transporter.
EurekAlert! - Biology
Astrocytes and synaptic plasticity
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Rockefeller University Press) By mopping up excess neurotrophic factor from neuronal synapses, astrocytes may finely tune synaptic transmission to affect processes such as learning and memory, say Bergami et al. Their report is published in the Journal of Cell Biology.
Body's anti-HIV drug explained
Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(University of Southern California) Study in journal Nature reveals atomic structure of enzyme capable of repelling HIV virus, suggesting new approach for drug development.
Pectin power
Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Norwich BioScience Institutes) Scientists from the UK's Institute of Food Research have found a new possible explanation for why people who eat more fruit and vegetables may gain protection against the spread of cancers.They have shown that a fragment released from pectin, found in all fruits and vegetables, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression.
American Sycamore - Descriptions of features, and a collection of photographs.
American Sycamore - Platanus occidentalis - Description and photos.
Meta Description: [ Nature: The American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is a stately tree that grows primarily in moist bottomlands in the eastern U.S. ]
Platanus occidentalis - Common names: American sycamore, plane tree, or buttonball tree. Species information including distribution, use, characteristics, ecology.
Meta Description: [ . ]
Platanus occidentalis L - Detailed description of the tree, its range, lifecycle, usage for forestry, and genetics.
| recorded live at PLATANUS Nippleroom which will be caterpillared soon - bbut we saved the nipples and nailed 'em into our ... | |
| Next Video | |
