Platanus × hispanica Mill. ex Münchh.
Common name
London plane
Synonyms
Platanus × acerifolia; Platanus occidentalis × orientalis
Family
Platanaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Large deciduous tree, monoecious. London plane (P. x hispanica) has P. orientalis as one parent; it has leaves less deeply lobed than in P. orientalis, and 5-lobed cf. 5-7 lobes. The seed balls typically two [(1)-2-(4)] per stem cf. 3-6 in P. orientalis. Bark peels in large flakes at irregular intervals producing a characteristic mottled or camouflage pattern
Habitat
Rather rarely, seedlings are found near plantings of this species. However, as the seed is wind and water dispersed this hybrid icould become more common in situations well away from old plantings.
Detailed description
Deciduous tree up to 35 m high; trunk and branches upright to spreading and forming a slightly pyramidal to round crown of open branches; bark light brown, exfoliating on large trunks into creamy, olive and yellow patches. Young shoots and leaves covered in dense pale brown stellate hairs; twigs with moderate zig-zag, green at first, becoming grey-brown, glabrate or glabrous; buds conical, reddish, covered with a single cap-like scale. Petiole 5–8 cm long. Leaves alternate,10–26 × 12–30 cm, green above, paler below; palmate, (3–)5(–7) lobed, lobes triangular to triangular-ovate, similar length to width, extending to c. 1/3 of distance to midrib; base truncate to cordate; margin entire or with 1–4 teeth on each side of lobe. Inflorescence rachis pendulous, up to 13(–25) cm long at fruiting; peduncles very short. Flowers in 1–3(–4) globular heads, monoecious, numerous. Fruiting heads 1.8–3.0 cm diam., bristly at first, becoming smooth as styles break off, comprising multiple achenes. Achenes conical, yellowish brown, with hairs on surface.
Similar taxa
Oriental plane - Platanus orientalis (q.v.)
Flowering
October
Flower colours
Green
Fruiting
January
Year naturalised
1981
Origin
Europe. Cultivated hybrid
Reason for introduction
Ornamental, shade
Control techniques
Sullivan et al. (2002) showed that seedlings appear only rarely and they expressed no concern about the spread of London planes.
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
Life Cycle Comments
Long-lived tree
Reproduction
Exclusively by seed and seed is short-lived and dispersed by wind, gravity and water.
Tolerances
Cold and moderately drought tolerant.
References and further reading
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: Ogle, C. (Year at time of access): Platanus × hispanica Mill. ex Münchh. Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/platanus-hispanica-mill-ex-munchh/ (Date website was queried)