Commonly known as the sycamore tree, it is a large tree that can exceed 45 meters in height. It has a robust trunk and branches, with a broad and shady crown. Originally imported from Asia Minor (P. orientalis), it hybridized with the western variety, forming the P. acerifolia commonly found in Italian parks and avenues.
Its natural form is characterized by branches branching off the main trunk at a short height and spreading out like a fan. Unfortunately, landscaping practices often dictate a trunk devoid of branches for many meters. The leaves are very large and have five lobes. In Greek, "platus" means wide or flat, hence the name "platanos."
As one of the most common trees in Greece, it's not surprising that there are numerous myths and legends featuring the plane tree. In Roman times, Emperor Caligula famously hosted a banquet inside a giant plane tree near Velletri, constructing a platform on its large branches. Both the Ancient Romans and Greeks believed that these trees kept away bats, considered birds of ill omen. They also thought that floral buds, taken with wine, served as a remedy against snake venom.
From an arboricultural perspective, the plane tree is highly adaptable, capable of quickly closing large cuts or branch breaks through the growth of scar tissue. Unfortunately, since the 1980s, a severe fungal disease (Ceratocystis platani) has spread in Europe, rapidly causing the death of entire trees and affecting the landscape, especially in Veneto.
It can live up to 500 years.
