Status: Native
Synonyms:
Platanus racemosa Nuttall var. wrightii (S. Watson) L. Benson
Platanus wrightii has three lobed large leaves and white branches with gray brown bark
that peels easily. The balls of achenes are pediceled. The 6mm long achenes have a tuft of fine hairs at the base and are radially arranged on the fruit. Platanus wrightii is found almost exclusively in canyons with at least seasonal water flow where they can grow to huge height and girth. The winter buds of Platanus wrightii are quite large and can be dissected to show that each bud does not enclose a leaf (it is not therefore a "leaf bud") but rather the primordia of an entire shoot. Within the bud are a shoot with leaf structures and frequently also the structures that develop into catkins.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Platanus wrightii, photo Russ Kleinman, Richard Felger & George Ferguson, Burro Mtns., Wild Horse Canyon, September 2, 2012
Platanus wrightii, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Wild Horse Canyon, May 16, 2007
Platanus wrightii, 5x macro of bark, photo Russ Kleinman, Pancho Canyon, Nov. 7, 2008
Platanus wrightii, in fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Pancho Canyon, Dec. 12, 2008
Platanus wrightii, macro of achene, photo Russ Kleinman, Pancho Canyon, Dec. 12, 2008
Platanus wrightii, globose flower heads with achenes, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Mogollon Mtns., Catwalk, Feb. 3, 2009
Platanus wrightii, globose flower heads with achenes, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, December 28, 2009
Platanus wrightii, closeup of winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, December 28, 2009
Platanus wrightii, closeup of winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, December 28, 2009
Platanus wrightii, 2x macro of bud and leaf scar on winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, December 28, 2009
Platanus wrightii, macro of bissected bud showing shoot, leaves and catkin primordia within bud scales, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, January 16, 2010
Platanus wrightii, macro of bissected bud with primorida of shoot, leaves and early developing catkins removed from bud scales, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Road, January 16, 2010
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