Plane tree, chinar

Platanus (Platanus) is a genus of trees belonging to the plane-tree family. Plane trees are tall, mighty and dense deciduous trees. Their trunk is quite powerful and reaches up to 50 m in height, with a girth up to 18 m. It has a cylindrical shape, with gray-green bark that peels off. Plane tree leaves are palmately lobed and alternate. The fruits of this tree are small nuts that remain on it through the winter and only break apart into individual nuts in spring. Botanists count about 10 species of plane trees. The most popular among them are:

Oriental plane or "chinar" (Platanus orientalis) - decorative long-lived trees growing in the Caucasus. Height - 55-60 m. Lifespan is about 2 thousand years. "Chinars" have a branched, wide and dense crown, light-green bark that peels off in large plates. Their deeply lobed foliage is truly decorative - 10-20 cm wide. The fruit heads are borne on stalks, several together, up to 2.5 cm thick. The size of the nuts is 8-10 mm. They have a characteristic tip and long hairs; the kernels are edible ("chinariki").

Such an oriental plane, like the birch, belongs to fast-growing trees. Young trees gain about 2 m each year. They strongly prefer light and deep moist soils. They are not afraid of frosts down to -15°C. The seeds of the "chinar" are best stored in a cool, dry place; then the germination of plane trees is preserved for up to a year. In laboratory conditions germination varies in the range 32-57%, and in the ground up to 9%. It is preferable to plant the tree in autumn on light soils, and on heavy soils in spring. Before sowing the nuts are soaked for a day. On wet and light soils the ideal sowing depth is half a meter.

Western plane (Platanus occidentalis) - a deciduous tree that can be found in North America. Unlike the oriental "chinar", this plane is not as tall and reaches up to 35 m. It has a very stout trunk with smooth light-colored bark. The infructescences are solitary and bristly with seeds up to 3 mm. It surpasses the "chinar" in cold hardiness - down to -30°C. It does not require special soil, however it tolerates drought poorly.

Maple-leaved plane (Platanus acerifolia) - a colorful hybrid of the aforementioned trees. Advantages: fast growth, easy to propagate and cultivate, frost-hardy. Such plane trees as ornamental trees are extremely popular for planting in gardens, parks, squares and streets in Ukraine, Belarus, the Transcaucasus and Central Asia. Seeds of the maple-leaved plane are well preserved in a cool place and reach up to 3 mm in size. Seed viability lasts from 0.5 to 1.5 years. Sowing is carried out on light soils in autumn or in spring. Before sowing, seeds should be soaked for a day. On wet soils the optimal sowing depth is half a meter.