An Early Record of the Sycamore Maple in Britain

Abstract

THE sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus L., is one of the hardiest of British trees, sometimes suppressing the elm by the vigour and rapidity of its growth. According to Henry¹ it thrives in almost any dry soil, and seems to reach its greatest size and perfection in the colder hilly parts of England and Scotland, “where nearly all the finest specimens are found”. It is unaffected by the severest frosts, at any season, and is rarely attacked seriously by insects, or by fungi except Rhytisma acerinum (Pers.) Fries, which produces noticeable black blotches on the leaves. The sycamore maple ripens seed profusely and reproduces itself almost everywhere on clean ground, though the seedlings are easily suppressed by coarse grass. Bean² notes that its seedlings spring up in the wilder parts of Kew Gardens in such a way that in course of time the place, if left to run wild, would probably become a sycamore forest. He points out that this is one of the few trees that will stand the full force of salt-laden winds in exposed places near the sea. Last year I found it growing on the coast of Caithness exposed to the full fury of the north wind.