While out walking yesterday, I came across this tree. Maybe you can tell me what it is. It has interesting bark.
And even more interesting seed pods. Those were what really caught my attention, scattered underfoot. 
I haven't noticed these pods before, so I'm guessing it's not a really common tree here. Or maybe it is and I'm just blind. Any ideas?
That looks like a sycamore.
ReplyDeleteI agree w/Anon. There's a street near me named Sycamore w/big old trees and those seed pods all over the ground.
ReplyDeletesycamore is what I say too....we had those trees in our yard when I was a kid
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a sycamore. The fruit looks right but not the bark, which is described as 'mottled "camouflage" exfoliating (peeling) bark (green, white, tan)" on one website. For the same reason I don't think it's a London plane tree either, although I'm less sure of that. The bark looks a lot like that of a horse chestnut, which has a fruit that's somewhat like the picture you showed. I dunno...maybe it's a horse chestnut + sycamore hybrid?
ReplyDeleteseed pod/fruit is definitely a species of sycamore... the bark does appear mottled in the first picture. hmmm...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anonymouse, Vicki and DB! Yes, it does apper to be a sycamore. They are not very common here, so I am not crazy for not noticing them before.
ReplyDeletePam, thanks for researching! If you click on the picture of the tree itself, you'll see that the bark is a lot more exfoliated farther up and looks mottled. I am told the London plane tree is more common around here, but this particular tree has seed pods in singles, rather than doubles. (I'm holding two separate ones in the photo.) Probably would've been even easier to ID when it has leaves. I will keep an eye out for what those look like in the spring.
Mimi, you snuck a comment in there! Yes, I think American sycamore, or Platanus occidentalis.
ReplyDeleteBlowing up the top picture DOES show more mottling so I join the rest of you in guessing that it's a sycamore. I saw a stand of them a few days ago in Rock Creek Park in DC. I only noticed them because it was near sunset and from a distance the tree trunks, there were about 10 of them, looked almost white when the light hit them. Very beautiful.
ReplyDeletewe have those in sacto...i love them. .but sorry...don't know what they are.
ReplyDeletegreat tree. has anyone noticed the one on the corner of gaylord and i think Indiana? the corner just north of the Gaylord St. shopping ... block. i would say district. is that a district?
ReplyDeleteClemmonsorama ... gee, your name looks familiar ;-) I haven't seen that tree, but I don't get over that way much. I think it qualifies as a district. Old South Gaylord?
ReplyDelete