London has a significant number of sycamore trees due to the presence of the London aeroplane , which is a hybrid of the Oriental woodworking plane and the American sycamore fig . The London plane tree is a rough-cut sight throughout the city , lining its street and adorn its park . But how did this tree become so prevalent in London ?
The story start in the 17th century when John Tradescant the Younger , a renowned gardener , had a nursery garden in London . At his glasshouse , he had planted both the Oriental aeroplane and the American sycamore , which had been introduced to Britain . These two species , being in close proximity , had the opportunity to hybridize - pollinate .
Cross - pollination appears when the pollen from one works fertilizes the flowers of another plant life , resulting in the production of offspring with a combination of traits from both parent plants . In this case , the Oriental plane and the American sycamore cross - pollinated , giving raise to a new hybrid specie – the London plane .
The London plane tree inherit worthy characteristic from both parent coinage , make it well - suited to thrive in the urban environment of London . It has the Oriental sheet ’s resistivity to defilement and power to brook urban conditions , while also inheriting the American sycamore ’s impressive size and attractive barque .
As the city grew and expanded , the pauperism for street trees became evident . The London plane tree diagram proved to be an excellent selection for this purpose due to its adaptability and aesthetic appeal . Its large size provided ample spectre , and its unique dappled barque added optic pursuit to the cityscape .
Furthermore , the London plane tree has proven to be extremely resilient and able to withstand the challenges of urban life . It can endure a wide reach of territory conditions , let in wad and polluted soils . Its power to withstand pollution bring in it an ideal selection for a city like London , where air quality can be a business .
In addition to its hard-nosed benefit , the London sheet tree has also become deeply ingrain in London ’s cultural identicalness . It has been a part of the city ’s landscape painting for centuries , witnessed historic events , and leave shade and beauty to generations of Londoners . Its presence in ballpark , gardens , and along street has become a defining equipment characteristic of the city .
The prevalence of platan trees in London can be attributed to the successful cross - pollenation of the Oriental sheet and the American sycamore , result in the creation of the London plane tree . This hybrid species has attempt to be well - suited to the urban environment , offering numerous practical welfare and becoming an integral part of London ’s landscape and identity .
Caroline Bates