Species of plane tree native to North America; the tallest of the plane trees, reaching more than 50 m (160 feet) in height. Its pendent, smooth, ball-shaped seed clusters usually dangle singly and often persist after leaf fall. It is distinguished from other trees by its mottled exfoliating bark, which flakes off in great irregular masses, leaving the surface mottled, and greenish-white, gray and brown. For trees known simply as "sycamore," use Acer Pseudoplatanus, which is a species of maple.
