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More than 100 hybrid Planetrees, or Sycamores if you prefer, placidly
dominate Memorial Way. The original 57 were planted in 1920 as memorials
for UW faculty and students killed in the first World War. These trees are
appropriate for the role, being monumentally large, long lived, and
handsome. The eastern U.S. sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) crossed
with its Old World counterpart (P. orientalis), results in vigorous
offspring that have been planted since the late 1600s. Most famous of
various such hybrid clones is the one called London Plane, which grows
taller, with paler bark and droopier branches than our campus trees. The
leaves are maple-like, but have rather short stalks. Round seedheads dangle
on stout string-like stalks. The fall foliage color is drab yellow-brown,
but the exfoliating patchy bark mottles the trunks handsomely, especially
in severe winter cold.
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![[ Trunk of Sycamore tree]](/home/treetour/graphics/53hyb.jpg)
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Tree Tour