Diseases of sycamore and maple (Acer spp.)

Abstract

The only species of Acer native in Britain is the field maple, A. campestre, a small tree of woodland edges, hedgerows and boundaries. The sycamore, A. pseudoplatanus, introduced to Britain four or five hundred years ago, and now naturalised, is the only Acer species grown there as a forest tree, as well as for shelter and amenity planting. Also long introduced in Britain is the Norway maple, A. platanoides, much grown in streets, parks and gardens. These three Acer spp. are all native and widespread over most of the mainland of Europe (Evans, 1984). A number of other maples are native in the more southerly and southeasterly parts of Europe, and many introduced species from the Far East and North America are extensively grown in Britain and the rest of Europe as ornamental trees.