Scientific Name: Acer pseudoplatanus.
Common Name(s): Sycamore maple,
INVASIVE to MAINE
Research Summary: Olivia A.
My observations while doing this research were that some information was hard to find, like the origin and where it is in Maine. Yes, it was difficult for me because my species was a little complex because of how many limited facts there were. There were enough resources, but I thought there could be a little more of them because some of the sites said different things than others.
What surprised me was that the sycamore maple can give humans serious allergic reactions. Some of the most important things I discovered about my species is that it can thrive in many different areas.
What surprised me was that the sycamore maple can give humans serious allergic reactions. Some of the most important things I discovered about my species is that it can thrive in many different areas.
Identifying Characteristics
Leaves
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Taxonomy of Species
Scientific Classification | What That Classification Means | |
Kingdom | Plantae | Eukaryotic cells, many celled, move, members make thier own food. |
Phylum | Magnoliophyta | Angiosperm: comprising flowered plants that produce seeds enclosed in the ovary. |
Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons: comprising seed plants that produce and embryo. |
Order | Sapindales | Sapindales is a botanical name for an order of plants. |
Family | Aceraceae | A family of trees and shrubs of order Sapindales including plants. |
Genus | Acer | Type of genus of the Aceraceae; trees or shrubs with winged fruit. |
Species | Pseudoplatanus | Eurasian maple tree with pale grey bark that peels in flakes like a sycamore. |
Similar species include: Norway maple, red maple, and the sugar maple.
Location and Movement
Origin/ Native Range | Europe and western Asia. |
Introduction |
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Spread of Species |
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Where is it now invasive? |
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Maine
Is this species in Maine? | Yes, the sycamore maple is in Maine. |
Where has it been identified? | Is in all counties but looks to be more concentrated in Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, York, Cumberland, Oxford, and Somerset counties. |
How was this species introduced? | Date of first introduction is unclear. |
Habitat
Natural Environment |
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Climate and Temperature Range | The hardiness zone is 4-7. 4a (-30 to -25 F), and 7b ( 5 to 10 F). |
Nutrition
Ecological Interactions | Producer. |
Obtaining food | The sycamore maple gets its nutrients from photosynthesis. |
Consumed By |
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Impact
Ecological |
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Human | Can give humans serious allergic reactions to its pollen. |
Economic |
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Control
Biological | N/A |
Mechanical | You can remove the Sycamore maple by yourself if in your yard.
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Cultural |
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Chemical | Herbicides for stopping large populations. |
Interesting Facts
- When planted in Britan, the sycamore maple can live for 200 years.
- Is invasive, but can be considered non-native too.
- The flower of the Sycamore maple is eatable.