Platanus x hispanica - London plane

Platanus x hispanica - London plane

I found this Platanus in longford park. It can reach heights of 12 meters and higher. London plane has a high tolerance towards air pollution and can grow in poor soils which is why its a typical urban tree that gets planted along side of roads and streets in towns and cities

 It has a thick robust trunk

 It is one of the few trees that can be easily identified by its bark; looks like camouflage, is greyish brown and flakes small round pieces that drop off to reveal yellowish brown patches.

 The buds are round, green, fleshy and a rounded tip, at the base you can spot the old leaf scar where last years leaves have grown out from.

Leaves are light green with five pointed lobes at the tips also has smaller ones on the edges. They appear late at the end of may to the beginning of June.

Quercus robur - English Oak

Quercus robur - English Oak

I found this quercus in whitworth park adjacent oxford road. The tree is relatively young and small judging by the girth of its trunk and is currently in good health. English oaks are common throughout Europe, they can grow to monumental sizes and live to hundreds of years.

The bark is grey and finely cracked 

The leaves are short in length growing up to a few inches, they have very deep lobes with two miniature lobes pointing backwards at the base.

 The leaves grow in small clumps.

We can tell that this Quercus is male by observing the catkins closely, they form short light green clusters that emerge in May, the females catkins are shorter and have tiny flowers.

 The twigs/branches are knobbly.