The name “sycamore” is a source of confusion because it has been applied to several distinct species of trees across different continents and throughout history. This common name does not refer to a single type of tree, but rather to various species that share characteristics like a spreading crown or similar-looking leaves. This ambiguity often leads people to question the botanical relationship between these trees, particularly whether the sycamore is, in fact, a fig. Understanding their true scientific classifications clarifies their differences and their one point of overlap.
The Simple Answer in Botany
Most trees called “sycamore” are not figs, but one species with that name definitively is. The term “sycamore” is a common name applied to multiple genera, making botanical classification necessary to resolve the confusion. Using the genus name, which groups closely related species, immediately clarifies the relationship. While most trees referred to as sycamores belong to the Platanus or Acer genera, the exception is a true fig species belonging to the genus Ficus.
The Sycamore That Is a Fig
The one species that is a fig is Ficus sycomorus, commonly known as the Sycamore Fig or Fig-Mulberry. This tree is native to regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East, including ancient Egypt and the Levant. It acquired the name “sycamore” likely because its large, spreading canopy provided ample shade, a quality shared with the unrelated plane trees also called sycamores.
As a member of the Ficus genus, this tree belongs to the Moraceae family. It produces edible fruit that is technically a syconium, a structure where the small flowers are enclosed within the fleshy receptacle. These figs are globose, typically two to three centimeters in diameter, and grow in dense clusters directly on the trunk and thick branches, a characteristic known as cauliflory. The fruit ripens from buff-green to yellowish or reddish and has been cultivated since ancient times.
Sycamores That Are Not Figs
The most common trees called sycamore that are not figs belong to completely different botanical families. The American Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is a massive deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It belongs to the Platanaceae family, which is separate from the fig family.
The American Sycamore’s most distinguishing feature is its mottled bark, which exfoliates in large, irregular patches to reveal creamy white or greenish inner bark. Its fruit is a fuzzy, long-stalked, spherical ball of numerous tiny seeds, often called a buttonball, which persists through the winter. This fruit structure is nothing like the fleshy, enclosed fig of the Ficus species.
Another common tree is the Sycamore Maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, native to Central Europe and Western Asia. In the British Isles, this tree is often referred to simply as the sycamore. It is a member of the Sapindaceae family, which also contains other maples.
The Sycamore Maple’s leaves are large and palmately lobed, resembling those of other maples. The name pseudoplatanus literally means “false plane tree,” showing its resemblance to the Platanus sycamores. Its seeds are winged seeds known as samaras, which spin as they fall, unlike figs or buttonballs. The differences in bark, leaves, and fruit among these species confirm that “sycamore” is a linguistic convenience, not a sign of a shared botanical lineage.