Platanus × hispanica Mill. ex Münchh.
The London plane, London planetree or Spanish plane is a tree in the family Platanaceae. It is a fertile hybrid of the oriental plane (Platanus orientalis) and the American sycamore (P. occidentalis). It is often said that the hybridization took place in Spain, but it could also have happened in Vauxhall Gardens in London after P. orientalis and P. occidentalis had been planted in proximity to one another.
It is a deciduous broadleaf tree growing to 20-30 metres tall and known to live for several hundred years. The leaves are simple, leathery and thick, superficially maple-like with five triangular lobes, they turn a rich orange-yellow before falling in autumn. The flowers are borne in one to three ball-shaped dense inflorescences - male and female inflorescences are found on the same tree, although on different stems. Pollination is by wind. The fruit comprises a dense spherical cluster of achenes with numerous stiff hairs which aid wind dispersal; the cluster breaks up slowly over the winter to release the numerous 2–3 mm seeds - these are an irritant if breathed in, and can exacerbate breathing difficulties for people with asthma.
Very little wildlife is associated with this species and it's the capital’s most common tree, valued for being very tolerant of atmospheric pollution and root compaction. Studies have shown that it is one of the most efficient trees in removing small particulate pollutants in urban areas while. It was planted extensively in Victorian times to weather the pollution of London and is now found in cities throughout the world.
Sources: Woodland Trust; Kew; Biodiversity Heritage Library; Wikipedia; IPNI
The cache
Please know your limitations and do NOT attempt to reach this cache if you are unsure of your climbing abilities but if you go for it do at your own risk. I take no responsilibility for any injury caused as a result of attempting this cache.
This cache is classed as a T4 because it is harder to be reached than an ordinary cache behind a street sign. Simply spotting the container from the ground is not enough to claim a find. As per Geocaching guidelines, you must sign the logsheet or your log will be deleted.
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