A fast-growing tree, native to most of Europe, but not the British Isles, just extending into Norway. It is superficially quite similar to the sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus, but does not suffer from the tar spot fungus that is ubiquitous on sycamore. In Autumn its leaves turn an attractive yellow, unlike those of sycamore which turn from green to dusty brown. It bears the winged seeds (samaras) typical of a maple, these being larger than those of sycamore. In Belfast Botanic Gardens there is a well grown, symmetrical, specimen between the PEC and its car-park.

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2014 and 2015. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.