Isachne

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Proteales

Familia: Platanaceae
Genus: Platanus
Species: Platanus orientalis
Name

Platanus orientalis L., Sp. Pl. 2: 999 (1753).
Synonyms

Heterotypic
Platanus algeriensis K.Koch, Dendrologie 2(1): 468 (1872).
Platanus cretica Dode, Bull. Soc. Dendrol. France 7: 60 (1908).
Platanus orientalis var. elongata Aiton, Hort. Kew. 3: 364 (1789).
Platanus elongata (Aiton) Steud., Nomencl. Bot. 1: 632 (1821), nom. inval., pro syn.
Platanus orientalis var. insularis A.DC., Prodr. 16: 159 (1864)
Platanus insularis Kotschy ex Koehne, Deut. Dendrol.: 206 (1893).
Platanus laciniata K.Koch, Dendrologie 2(1): 468 (1872).
Platanus macrophylla Cree ex W.H.Baxter in J.C.Loudon, Hort. Brit., ed. 3: 659 (1839).
Platanus nana K.Koch, Dendrologie 2(1): 470 (1872).
Platanus orientalior Dode, Bull. Soc. Dendrol. France 7: 57 (1908).
Platanus palmata Moench, Methodus: 358 (1794).
Platanus pyramidalis Bolle ex Koehne, Deut. Dendrol.: 206 (1893).
Platanus reuteri K.Koch, Dendrologie 2(1): 468 (1872).
Platanus umbraculifera K.Koch, Dendrologie 2(1): 468 (1872).
Platanus umbrosa Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 393 (1796).
Platanus orientalis var. undulata Aiton, Hort. Kew. 3: 364 (1789).
Platanus undulata (Aiton) Steud., Nomencl. Bot. 1: 632 (1821), nom. inval., pro syn.
Platanus vitifolia Spach ex Dippel, Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 276 (1893).
Platanus vulgaris Spach, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2, 15: 291 (1841).
Platanus cuneata Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4(1): 473 (1805).
Platanus digitata Hort. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2, 2: 352 (1841), nom. inval., pro syn.
Platanus nepalensis Hort. ex W.H.Baxter, Suppl. Hort. Brit. (Loudon) 612 (1850)

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Sicilia, Turkey-in-Europe (introduced), Yugoslavia.
Continental: Africa
Regional: Northern Africa
Morocco (introduced).
Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Middle Asia
Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan (introduced).
Regional: Caucasus
North Caucasus, Transcaucasus.
Regional: Western Asia
Afghanistan (introduced), Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Turkey.
Continental: Asia-Tropical
Regional: Indian Subcontinent
Pakistan, West Himalaya (introduced).

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 999. Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2021. Platanus orientalis. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 December 5. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Platanus orientalis in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 December 5. Reference page.
Euro+Med 2006 onwards: Platanus orientalis in Euro+Med PlantBase – the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 December 5.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Platanus orientalis. Published online. Accessed: 5 December 2021.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Platanus orientalis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Vernacular names
العربية: دلب مشرقي
azərbaycanca: Şərq çinarı
български: Източен чинар
brezhoneg: Platan-ar-Reter
català: Plàtan d'orient
kaszëbsczi: Wschòdnô platana
čeština: Platan východní
Cymraeg: Pilcoes
Deutsch: Morgenländische Platane
Ελληνικά: Ανατολικός πλάτανος
English: Oriental Plane
español: Plátano oriental
فارسی: چنار خاوری
suomi: Idänplataani
français: Platane d'Orient
galego: Plátano oriental
עברית: דולב מזרחי
hornjoserbsce: Narańša platana
magyar: Keleti platán
հայերեն: Արևելյան սոսի
italiano: Platano orientale
日本語: スズカケノキ
한국어: 버즘나무
മലയാളം: ചിനാർ
Nederlands: Oosterse plataan
norsk: Orientplatan
polski: Platan wschodni
پنجابی: چنار
português: Plátano-oriental
русский: Платан восточный
slovenščina: Vzhodna platana
svenska: Orientalisk platan
Türkçe: Doğu çınarı
українська: Платан східний
اردو: چنار
中文: 法桐

Platanus orientalis, the Old World sycamore or Oriental plane,[2] is a large, deciduous tree of the Platanaceae family, growing to 30 m (98 ft) or more,[3] and known for its longevity and spreading crown. In autumn, its deep green leaves may change to blood red, amber, and yellow.

Etymology

The species' specific epithet, orientalis, means 'eastern', due to its distribution being restricted to the Eastern Hemisphere. In comparison, the 'western' plane (or American sycamore) is named Platanus occidentalis (due to it only being found in the Western Hemisphere). The tree was called platane in ancient Greek history and literature, and by related names in continental Europe. It is equally well known in Asia (from Anatolia to Kashmir) and usually called chinar or chenar. In the Kashmir Valley region, the native Kashmiri word for the tree is būñü.
Range

The native range is Eurasia, from the Balkans to Iran and at least as far east as Kashmir. Some accounts extend its native range to the Iberian Peninsula in the west, and to the Himalayas in the east. As it has been known in cultivation from early times in much of Europe, it can be difficult to determine if it is truly indigenous in peripheral areas.
Description
Fruits and leaves of Oriental plane
Oriental planes in late medieval Khans Garden park. Ganja city, Azerbaijan.

The Oriental plane is found naturally in riverine settings, together with such trees as alder, willow and poplar. However, it is quite capable of survival and success in dry soils once it is established.

Like other plane trees, its leaves are borne alternately on the stem, deeply lobed, and palmate or maple-like. It usually has flaking bark, occasionally not flaking and becoming thick and rugged. Flowers and fruit are round and burr-like, borne in clusters of between 2 and 6 on a stem. Considerable variation exists among trees in the wild, and this may be complicated by crossbreeding with planted London planes (Platanus x acerifolia), the hybrid of P. orientalis with the related P. occidentalis.
Cultivation

The tree is capable of being grown in most temperate latitudes, though it benefits greatly from warm summers. As a very large and wide tree with broad, thick leaves that tend to orient horizontally, it is especially prized for the shade and coolness it provides during the hot season.

It grows best in rich soil in a sunny location,[4] and can survive drought well. Although young plants appreciate regular watering.
Other uses

The leaves and bark have been used medicinally. A fabric dye has been made from the twigs and roots. The timber, often called lacewood, is figured and valuable for indoor furniture. The leaves are also often used by artists for leaf carving.[5][6]
Cultural history
Greece
The "Tree of Hippocrates" in Kos, Greece, possibly a descendant of the original.

The Tree of Hippocrates, under which Hippocrates — the "Father of Medicine" — taught at Kos, is reputed to have been an Oriental plane. A 500-year-old tree presently there may be on the same site and may have been planted from a succession of cuttings from the original. The Athenian Academy, outside Athens, featured a sacred grove of planes where the students listened to the masters and where among others the Peripatetics practiced philosophy.

Many villages in Greece feature plane trees in their main squares, frequently found alongside them are water springs that in the past would serve as the main water source for the villagers; usually these are quite old trees with their age seen as a point of pride for the local inhabitants. Occasionally the oldest trees exhibit partially hollowed out trunks, with cavities large enough to provide amusement opportunities for local or visiting children and teenagers, and even serving (along with the rest of the tree) as tourist attractions.
Rome

Pliny's Natural History[7] records the westward progress of the plane "introduced among us from a foreign clime for nothing but its shade", planted first at the tomb of Diomedes on the island of Tremiti, then imported to Greek Sicily by Dionysius the Elder (c. 432-367 BC), tyrant of Syracuse. He had plane trees conveyed to the city of Rhegium (Reggio di Calabria), where they were looked upon as the great marvel of his palace, according to Pliny's sources. From there it spread by the first century CE as far as the lands of the Morini in Belgic Gaul. Regardless of why it may have been introduced, the tree had medicinal uses from early times. Pliny[8] details 25 remedies using preparation from the bark, leaves and excrescences of plane. Pliny prescribes it for burns, bites, stings, frostbite and infections.

Pliny goes on to describe some legendary plane trees.[9] There was one on the grounds of the Athenian Academy, he says, that had roots 50 feet (15 m) long. Licinius Mucianus held a banquet for 19 in a hollow plane-tree of Lycia, and the emperor Caligula another for 15 plus servants in a tree house (nest) built in the branches of a plane-tree at Velletri.
Kashmir
Famous Char Chinar ("four chinar trees") island on Dal lake, Srinagar, Kashmir.

Chinar has continued to be a major garden and landscape tree, and dominates many historic gardens. It is considered a living heritage of Kashmir, and seen as a symbol for the region. It can be found throughout the landscape of the valley, hillsides and cities, generally called booune "بوٗنۍ" in Kashmiri and chinar "چنار" by Urdu speakers.[10] For example, a famous landmark in Srinagar is an island on Dal Lake where four chinar trees stand, named Char Chinar. The tree, known for its elegance and exuberance has remained an attraction for artists and literateurs.

Kashmir Valley is the home of the world’s oldest plane tree (627 years old); it is located in Chattergam village of Budgam district. It is believed to be planted in 1374 A.D by an Islamic mystic named Syed Abul Qaim Hamadani (RA) who accompanied Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (RA) from Iran to Kashmir. It has a girth of 31.85 m at ground level and 14.78 m at breast height.[11][12][13]

Chinar trees are being felled rapidly in Kashmir,[14] although a recent ban has been enacted to curb cutting.[15] Chinar trees[16] are now required to be registered and are considered state property. Registered chinars are painted white at their base. Increased awareness means most old chinars are protected and looked after; however, some new chinars must be cut as their growth can cause damage to roads and houses. Chinars are considered as the symbols of the Persian influence on the heritage of Kashmir. Naseem Bagh a Mughal Garden near Srinagar which houses over 700 chinar trees, has been developed as a first Chinar Heritage Park by the University of Kashmir.[17]
United Kingdom

In 2011 a specimen planted by Capability Brown at Corsham Court in Wiltshire was identified in 2011 by The Tree Register of the British Isles as the tree with the greatest known spread in the United Kingdom.[18]

An example dating to at least 1762 is one of Kew Gardens' thirteen 'Heritage Trees'.[19]
Cultural references

A plane tree is the main theme in the aria Ombra mai fu composed by George Frideric Handel, in which the main character, Xerxes I of Persia, admires the shade of a plane tree.

It is the State tree of the Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir.[20] During the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, held in India, the aerostat used took the shape of a chinar tree under the 'tree of knowledge' segment of the ceremony. This was followed by representation of different seasons through image projections and different dance styles being performed by hundreds of cultural dancers from all across India.

References

Barstow, M.; Rivers, M.C. (2017). "Platanus orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T33951A68135880. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T33951A68135880.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
"Platanus orientalis Oriental Plane, Oriental planetree PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
Dina Spector (August 18, 2011). "Incredible Artwork Hand-Carved From Leaves". Business Insider. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
David Moye (August 16, 2011). "Leaf Carving Artists In China Branching Out Into Pop Culture". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
XII.3.
XXIV.29
XII.5
"[9]". Official Website of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism. May 19, 2020.
Ganaie, Shabeer A.; Bhat, Arshad (2019-05-15). "Macro-level transition and agricultural sustainability in Kashmir". Agriculture Update. 14 (2): 174–182. doi:10.15740/has/au/14.2/174-182. ISSN 0973-1520.
Rajesh Bhat (2007-12-24). "627-year-old living legend found in Kashmir". Merinews.com.
Mooney-Singh, Chris (2014). "Pantun of the Chinar Grove (Sri Nagar, Kashmir)". Manoa. 26 (1): 68–69. doi:10.1353/man.2014.0024. ISSN 1527-943X. S2CID 143772200.
"Climate". Official Website of Anantag District. Archived from the original on 2009-03-13.
"Ban on cutting Chinar trees in Kashmir". The Times of India. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012.
"Where Do Chinar Trees Grow In India". India Gardening. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
"Nasim Bagh". www.gardenvisit.com. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
"Corsham Court Oriental plane 'most spreading tree in UK'". BBC News. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
"Oriental plane in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, United Kingdom". monumentaltrees.com. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
"National Identity Elements - States Ut Symbol G L". Know India.

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