Picture: field maple or sycamore

[paddi22]

I can't figure this out! We have a tree, and the seedlings look like field maple/Norwegian maple because of the straightness, but the leaves look sycamore. anyone know what the story is? any help appreciated!

 

[Keith_Beef]

It looks to me like the Crimson King cultivar of the Norwegian maple; Crimson King colouring to the leaves, and the samsara (helicopter) is almost flat, it doesn't have the acute angle of the sycomore samsara.

 

[cobgoblin]

The pointy ends and serrated edges on the leaves would say sycamore to me. Not sure if the seeds are so reliable for identification.

 

[Burnttoast]

Sycamore, for reasons said above; in addition the sinuses (between the lobes of the leaf) are V shaped whereas those in Norway maple are U shaped.

ETA definitely not field maple, sorry

 

[paddi22]

another point of contention the depth of the veins on the leaves look different to the descriptions we found on the internet. apparently the veins on sycamore leaves should be dark, these ones are lighter and not as deep? its driving me mad, I've asked about 20 people and got a 50/50 each way!

 

[paddi22]

also does anyone have any info about sycamores seeds having less angle. from any research its the field or norway maple that have the straighter angle seeds, haven't found anywhere that says sycamores can have flat seeds, all say 45%. just so curious about it!

 

[cobgoblin]

Do you remember what the flowers were like? That might solve it.

 

[Burnttoast]

There's a great deal of variability in the appearance of sycamore, but the general characteristics that are consistent across individual examples are all here. Colour can vary depending on the age of the leaf and growing conditions. The 5-lobed leaf with a jagged outline, more or less pointed lobes and V shaped sinuses are all typical though. The shape of the samara wouldn't make me wonder either - although it's straighter than the books/internet would want it, the narrowing of the wing towards the seed and the convex outline of the top edge are also typical. Field maple is a much wider (top to bottom) samara. Norway maple has a convex top edge.

Sycamore on the right here, NW on left

And here (no sycamore seeds here, couldn't find any), FM on right

 

[cobgoblin]

The Norway Maple leaf does have a totally different look .

 

[paddi22]

thanks so much burnt toast, they are great photos!

 

[HelenBack]

Following if that's okay as we have some trees like this by our fields and I've been wondering the same thing.

 

[Burnttoast]

thanks so much burnt toast, they are great photos!

No worries sorry you have the bad one!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

another one following; got same problem

 

[HelenBack]

another one following; got same problem

I've noticed some of the seeds are down on the ground off the trees already too

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I’ve been collecting seeds and leaves around my track for a week now. I filled 5 carrier bags full in 3 hours and the next day the ground was covered again It‘s a nightmare with 7 trees.

 

[Sossigpoker]

That is a sycamore seed. A field maple seed is pretty much dead straight.

 

[Skips11]

From the above I think I’ve got sycamore…

 

[Skips11]

 

[paddi22]

thats an intersrting shot above. my leaf looks different to that in some ways. the veins on my leaf aren't as deep, and the texture is waxier? and there's a lot, lot less of the smaller veins?

 

[Sossigpoker]

View attachment 117812

Yes that's a sycamore

 

[Sossigpoker]

thats an intersrting shot above. my leaf looks different to that in some ways. the veins on my leaf aren't as deep, and the texture is waxier? and there's a lot, lot less of the smaller veins?

You need to go by the shape , if it has the 5 lobes , each with a pointy end and jagged edges it's almost certainly a sycamore. A mature sycamore also has bark that fragments and could be peeled ,.while the maple has a smooth trunk.
More info here

 

[Burnttoast]

There are only a certain number of candidate species in the UK. If it's got 5 lobes it's a maple and here the only widespread maples (not in gardens) are field maple, sycamore and (to a lesser extent) Norway maple. Those three are all pretty easy to tell apart once you've got your eye in.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Get the app ‘picture this’ and take a photo and it will tell you! I have a couple of Norway maples in one of my fields and was stressing the same as you thinking they were sycamores but I’m happy now I know.

 

[Burnttoast]

Get the app ‘picture this’ and take a photo and it will tell you! I have a couple of Norway maples in one of my fields and was stressing the same as you thinking they were sycamores but I’m happy now I know.

Care's needed with apps though. Someone on my fb group was told by her app that the sycamore in her field in the UK was Ukurundu maple (not found in the UK....!). Fortunately she posted so we could ID it for her.