Arizona Sycamore
Arbor Walk #171, Treekeeper ID #7177
The Arizona Sycamore is one of three native sycamore species in North America, and is the species with the most limited range. It is only found in Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and small pockets of Northwestern Mexico. Sycamores are riparian trees, meaning they live near rivers or streams and often have higher water requirements to grow. They also survive well in environments with periodic drought, flooding, and fire, given their native range, marking them as an incredibly resilient species. As a shade tree, the Arizona Sycamore is also very useful, providing cool cover on warm days in its native range or here in St. Louis.
| Common Names | Arizona Sycamore |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Platanus wrightii |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
Leaf Identification
The Arizona Sycamore leaf has five distinct palmate lobes, with the petiole attached at an acute angle to the leaf and the petiole based is covered with a toothed crown. The leaf margin can be serrated or entire (smooth). The leaf underside is yellow-green.
Twig and Bud Identification
Leaves are arranged alternately along the twig, and the twig is distinctly zigzag in shape. The twig is greenish brown with sporadic lenticels, and mature into a brown color with ridged texture. The axillary buds are hidden underneath the petioles and are small, brown, and ovoid.
Bark Identification
The young bark of the Arizona Sycamore is densely covered in lenticels but without any plates, ridges, or furrows. The mature bark features thin flaky layers that fall off to expose a patchwork of white, greenish, tan, and reddish brown bark below.
Fruit Identification
The fruits of the Arizona Sycamore are numerous small achenes attached to a hard ball, with the whole infructescence reaching up to 8 inches in length. The achenes have a tuft at their base where they attach–these tufts will help them disperse when they release from the ball.
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Arizona Sycamore are small, whitish, and on the large globular inflorescence that becomes the hard achene-containing ball where the fruits are carried.
ID Tips
- The Arizona Sycamore is the only sycamore native to Arizona and New Mexico, and those are the only two states it is found in.
