01. Platanus Hispanica (plane tree)

General characteristics

It is known as a shading tree, promenade platanus or “itching tree”, among other names.

It is a deciduous tree, and it can reach up to 40 metres high.
It has a smooth and grey bark, which can fall in pieces, leaving yellow or green marks.
Its big and green leaves are divided in 3-5 lobes, with a dented edge; the stalk base is thimble shaped.
It blooms from April to June.
The flowers are grouped in round balls.
The fruits are very small and the round balls are 4 centimetres in diameter, which break and release the seeds.

Uses

It can spontaneously grow in rivers and streams; it is cultivated as an ornamental tree in Western Europe since the XVIth century, in parks, gardens, promenades and streets due to its leafiness, which provides a great shade, as well as being resistant to pollution from cars.

Its wood is hard and fibrous, being used in woodwork, cart making, toy manufacture, train seats, etc.

Curiosities

Its fruits are also grouped toghether in round balls, each one having a shape like an inverted flat canoe and a long haired crown. These balls as a whole are called “pica-pica” (lit. itchy-itchy) in Spanish due to their itchiness. As historic curiosities we can say that the Greek wise doctor Hipocrates used to gather his disciples under the shade of an enormous platanus hispanica tree. And the legendary King of Spartha, Menenlaus, planted one before leaving to Troya, which lived over 800 years.

Shading Plane tree from the plaza del País Valencià

It shows a good state of preservation, in spite of having been heavily pruned in recent years. It is slightly bent towards the East. The tree bark is also well preserved.
CONDITION: Many big scars are found in it because of pruning. It hasn’t any broken branches, it neither shows putrefaction nor bark discharges.
ASSOCIATE LIFE: Some fungus (oidio) has been found on its leaves. A great colony of sparrows is heard and observed as fauna nearby.
ENVIRONMENT:

• NATURAL: 2 other trees from the square near the plane tree, which are Grevillea robusta, planted about15 years ago during the “ZP plan” (when former socialist minister Zapatero was in power).
• ANTHROPIC (man-made): Sewage system (2), rain sewage system (ravine channelling); waterproof ground (pavement), practically without any watering basin. Parking area under the tree. It has also direct contact with public streetlighting, near a house, towards which it is bending (at 6.25 mts).

Ethnobotany and/or associated history:

There is information about this tree being planted alongside 5 others which were planted in the square in 1906.
In the old days, the rope from the “cordà” (a traditional firework night festivity) was hung from this tree. The plaza del País Valencià from Potries has been (and still is) the gathering hub for the village neighbourhood.
From an arquitectural point of view the plaza is a perfect square, each side measuring 25 metres. Many of its houses are an example from the XVIII and XIX century architecture; we can observe elements such as a solar clock, ceramic panels, balcony iron grills…
TOURIST RESOURCES: La Plaza Bar – Tel. 962801286 – for home cooking.

On foot Access from the parking:

Parking easily found in Plaça País Valencià or in the nearby streets.