Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. American Woods September 1945 io. Some a camore Forest Service U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE by Oey Ld AMERICAN SYCAMORE (Platanus occidentalis ) By H. S. BEtts, senior engineer, Diwision of Forest Products American sycamore, commonly known simply as sycamore, grows to a larger diameter than any other American hardwood. Trees are on record that measured over 10 feet in diameter and 140 feet in height.1. The range of sycamore extends throughout nearly all of the eastern part of the United States. It is a hardy and fast-growing tree and thrives in the wet bottom lands of the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys where it often serves a useful purpose in holding river banks in place. Although the supply of sycamore is less than that of many other hardwoods, the fact that it often grows on lands not suitable for cultivation will probably insure a continued supply for commercial purposes. The tree is easily recognized by the smooth whitish or pale green patches of new bark which are exposed by the shedding of the old bark. Sycamore wood is moderately strong and hard, has a reddish- ‘brown color and a striking figure when quarter-sawed. It is used prin- cipally in the manufacture of furniture and food containers. Sycamore is widely used as a street tree, especially an imported sycamore (Platanus acerifolia) which has the advantage of being especially free from attack by fungi and insects. In addition to the eastern sycamore, there are two other native sycamores which grow in the Southwest, i. e., California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightw). The wood of the south- western sycamores is used very little for commercial purposes. Nomenclature.—A merican sycamore is commonly called sycamore. Other names sometimes used are button-wood, button-ball tree, and plane-tree. Distribution and growth.—Sycamore grows in scattered groups or singly from southern Maine westward to Nebraska and southward to eastern Texas and northern Florida (fig. 1). It grows best on flat lands where there is a good supply of ground water and along the edges of streams, lakes, and swamps. It is rarely found on dry soil. Sycamore usually has a short trunk which often divides near the ground into conspicuously irregular and massive branches. The trees do not as a rule yield a large proportion of high-grade lumber. When mature they are generally about 90 feet high and from 2 to 5 feet in diameter. Such trees are frequently hollow at the base because of heart rot. Smaller second-growth trees not over 20 inches in diameter are usually sound. Supply.—F igures are not available on which to base a reliable esti- mate of the supply of sycamore. A very rough estimate places the stand at approximately 3,000,000,000 board feet. Probably at least one-half of the stand of sycamore is in the central and southern por- tions of its range in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisi- ana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. 1 Yellow-poplar is the tallest American hardwood, 664394°—45 (1) Lig FAG KS RQXQQY BOTANICAL RANGE FIguRE 1.—Range of American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). Production of lumber.—The first recorded production of sycamore lumber was in 1899? when the cut was 29,715,000 board feet (fig. 2). In 1904 it dropped to 18,002,000 feet and then rose in 1909 to 56,511,000 feet. For the next 20 years it remained below the 1909 figure—gener- ally considerably below. In 1929 production reached 57,714,000 feet and 8 years later in 19382—a year of business depression—fell to an all-time minimum of 7,747,000 feet. In 1943 the production of syca- more was 67,935,000 board feet. The average annual cut of sycamore lumber for the 10-year period 1934-43 was 37,400,000 board feet. Maximum production was reached in 1942 when the cut was 77,700,000 board feet reported by 28 States. The marked increase in the produc- tion of sycamore in 1941, 1942, and 1943 was probably due largely to ee heavy demands for boxing and crating lumber brought about by the war. The center of production of sycamore lumber has tended to move southward from the States bordering on the Great Lakes to those bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. Indiana was the leading State u to 1915. For the next 11 years Arkansas was first (1915-1925.) It 2 Statistics of the Bureau of the Census. * Except in 1911, 1912, and 1918, when Missouri or Arkansas was first. 3 was followed by Tennessee (1926-1932)+* and then by Mississippi which was the leading State up to 1941.° In 1941 and 1942 the leading States were Indiana and Missouri, respectively. The five leading States in 1943, in order of production of sycamore lumber, were Mis- souri, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Veneer.—The amount of sycamore consumed in the manufacture of veneer ranged from 576,000 feet log scale in 1905 ° to 7,319,000 feet log scale in 1937.7. For the period 1927-1937 the average annual consump- tion of sycamore veneer logs was 5,581,000 feet, equivalent to approxi- mately 6,700,000 board feet of lumber.’ In addition to the sycamore used for lumber and veneer indetermi- nate amounts are cut for other purposes such as railway ties, cooper- age, fence posts, and fuel. The average annual cut of sycamore for all purposes in recent years is estimated at 45,000,000 board feet. Properties.—The heartwood of sycamore is reddish brown. The sapwood is lighter in color and generally from 11% to 3 inches thick in trees of commercial size. At times the heartwood and sapwood are not clearly defined. In quarter-sawed wood the medullary or pith rays are very conspicuous and, though smaller, resemble those in quarter-sawed oak. In sycamore, however, the rays are darker than the rest of the wood, while in oak they are lighter. The wood of sycamore has a close texture, an interlocked grain, turns well on a lathe, and shrinks moderately in drying. It is mod- erately heavy,? moderately hard, moderately stiff, moderately strong, and has moderately good shock-resisting ability. The wood keeps its shape well when bent to form after steaming. It is interme- diate in nail-holding power but ranks high in ability to withstand splitting because of the interlocked grain. It is inclined to war and presents some difficulties in seasoning. The wood is not durable when exposed to conditions favorable to decay. Sycamore wood does not impart taste, odor, or stain to substances that come in contact with it. Principal uses.—Sycamore is used principally for lumber, veneer, railway ties, cooperage, fence posts, and fuel. The lumber goes largely into furniture and boxes—mostly small food containers. These two uses accounted for over 97 percent of the sycamore lum- ber manufactured into wooden products in 1940. Other products made from sycamore lumber include flooring, scientific instruments, handles, and butcher’s blocks. Considerable sycamore veneer is used for fruit and vegetable baskets and berry boxes. This veneer is made from logs by the rotary process. Sycamore staves are used to a limited extent in sugar and flour barrels. Sycamore was long the favorite wood for plug-tobacco boxes, both solid and veneered, and more of it was used for these boxes than for any other product. Sweetgum has, however, partly displaced sycamore as a tobacco-box wood chiefly on account of its greater supply and the comparative ease with which it can be obtained, al- *Except in 1925, when Arkansas was first. 5 Except in 1939, when Alabama was first. ® The first year for which Census statistics on the amount of sycamore logs used for veneer are available. 7 e last year for which Census statistics on the amount of sycamore logs used for yeneer are available. 8 Overrun in log scale considered to be 20 percent. ®' The average weight of sycamore in an air-dry condition (12 percent moisture) is 84 pounds per cubic foot. 4 though not considered quite so satisfactory for the purpose. Sweet- gum has also displaced sycamore to some extent as a veneer material for fruit boxes and baskets. Sycamore is generally used for the cheaper grades of furniture, but in one form or another in practically all grades. Large quanti- ties of sycamore slats go into the backs of cheap chairs. In the more expensive furniture, it is used for interior parts, such as drawer backs and sides, shelves and pigeonholes, guides, etc., and oceasion- ally for outside pieces. Sycamore was formerly used in considerable quantities for staves and heading for slack barrels. The high-grade cooperage stock went mostly into sugar and flour barrels and the lower-grade material into barrels for shipping crockery and glassware. The amounts of sycamore used in making various wooden products in 1912, 1928, 1933, and 1940 are shown in table 1. The total figures include sycamore in the form of lumber, logs and bolts, and veneer. TABLE 1.—Sycamore used in the manufacture of wooden products [Thousands of board feet] Classes of products 1912 1928 1933 | 1940 Asricultural/implementiss: 4 32-23 oh se ee ees 290 AA ot oe 5 Boxes; baskets; and-crating. 222-2. 1/ ee Se ee ee 16, 452 11, 220 8, 390 11, 250 Roxesicizariand tobaceo.! ... sells 2a) Maa aE aS ee 430 500 a, | "16 (Barbeliers™Dlocks |= Wes ees eee een ee ee aes 11, 600 1 86 (1) 118 Ganicanstrichioncandérepain sso lee a ee OND Woe LETS Sa |e ea |e 3 Gaskete'and burial bexes?.. 222 huten) ep et Cie SP AE Sesh mie a sels | ae ie 4 Condints, pamps; and wood pipes: )2 5. ese Te 15 bees Dairy, poultry, and apiaby supplies: 2.01.2) ee (2) WES Pie. thei rept t 80 TK EUEE Sete ea 2 eI SAS) ee el A IE ee eee & ACG (0's di eee ppp Bes Ue APN Ye PoE Are al A Bi De sea Shas pe RY Wy Se a1] FD SMa CIT PASE A RG ign cE Ua ap pA ays ie a e barra iat toa We ine 8) 2 ahead Mee aI ERS AR She a tra TA SERRTI CTUES! THATS CS Me ete be es A ah ean a Instruments, professional and scientific Baud appligmoas e529 lee meu ce ek LA ara Pu eae ee 2 MAYBE) alba 3) rsa me ge NP SR YR Rar a IE ee a eee ee ate Pe ASY ON Pambers) wood Worksite Sees eae Nein Hic ae a VE SLM as On tea Radio and phonograph cabinets REPLI SOVATORS ii. HEE ie UG ie en ED gt ag EN NLD, Rollers’: shade ands map 2205 —) ev ne we sal Mee tl see ee Sashdoors> ceneralamill works toss ese eae ee eae Sevan etre Chi Tes foe kis us as Pg aR Oe eee Shipiand boatbuilding a ae eae ee ee Shuttles, spools, bobbins, looms Signs, sseenery:, asp leiys se hate ee 2 a ERs SE NC EP ep ee ae | ee Sport: andiathileticisoods=2. == 2222) eee ee ee FINO SEEN Se FE A fk) RN es IE a A I ae eee OE Wiehicless motor ee eye oe Ue Sh SRN Tea iene are eee ta Mehicles; nommiotor4 iu func Loe ee na eee ein oe iWoodenwarerand:novelties.22_ 22) fen. soe ae ores Une eae Notas, so bese es Se SS ee a an ee see Sees 26, 053 37, 477 18, 934 | 10 29, 484 1 Includes skewers. 2 Included in ‘‘Woodenware and novelties.” 3 Included in ‘‘Sash, doors, general millwork.”’ 4 Included in ‘‘Furniture.”’ 5 Includes kitchen cabinets. 6 Includes planing-mill products, such as siding, ceiling, and flooring. 7 Planing-mill products not included in 1933 and 1940 canvasses except flooring which is listed separately. 8 Does not include looms. § Included in ‘‘ Vehicles, nonmotor.”’ 10 This figure is made up of 21,058,000 board feet of lumber, 5,726,000 board feet of veneer, and 2,700,000 board feet of logs and bolts. Million ft. bm. ioe eee a ee KE LARA Sa [SENSOR ENS 2 ee "05 40 15 FiIcuRE 2.—Lumber production of American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), 1899-19438. REFERENCES AMERICAN TREES. H. H. Gibson. 708 pp., illus. Chicago. 1913. CHARACTERISTICN AND USES OF SYCAMORE. Lumber Veneer and Consumer. July 30, 1922. LUMBER USED IN MANUFACTURE—1928, 1938, and 1940. (Summary Tables.) U.S. » Forest Service Preliminary Statistics—Forest Survey of the United States. LUMBER USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN PRODUCTS. J. C. Nellis. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 605, 18 pp., illus. 1918. THE SOUTHERN HARDWOODS—SYCAMORE. Southern Hardwood Producers, Ine. South. Lumberman 161 (2033). p. 89, illus. 1940. THE SYCAMORES. J. S. Illick. Amer. Forestry 28: 145-150, illus. 1922. UTILIZATION OF SYCAMORE. W.D. Brush. U.S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 884, 24 pp. illus. 1920. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1945 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. 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