| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Basal Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Platanaceae
Family Common Name: Sycamore Tree Family
Genus: Platanus |
Defining Features: The family
is closely related to the Hamamelidaceae, with which it shares anatomical
features.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Flowers are actinomorphic and unisexual. Flowers are small and
in an indeterminate inflorescences of dense, round heads or capitate. Female
flowers may be asepalous and contain staminodes. The staminate flowers
have valvate anthers. Ovaries are superior with apical placentation. Fruit
and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit a round head of achenes, often hairy.
Vegetative Features: Habit as trees with scaling bark. Leaves are simple,
alternate and palmately lobed (excepting one pinnately lobed species).
Stipules are large, leaf-like and deciduous.
Distribution: Widely distributed
in North America, Mexico and from the eastern Mediterranean region to the
Asian Himalayas.
Economic Use: Important as
an ornamental shade tree and for its fine-grained wood.
Number of Genera Globally: 1
Number of Species Globally: 9
