Oriental plane - Platanus orientalis.

Kingdom - Plantae.

Division - Angiosperms.

Class - Eudicots.

Order- Proteales.

Family - Platanaceae.

Genus - Platanus.

Species - Platanus orientalis.

This plant is an ‘Old Lion’ of Kew Gardens and was planted in the original Arboretum in 1762 and is believed to have been introduced into England around 1560 although there are records dating it earlier, with the earliest tree being recorded in Ely in 1674.

The Kew plant probably came from the Duke of Argyll estate at Whitton around 1763. It is adjacent to te East wall of the former White House whose outline can be seen on the lawn in front of Kew Palace, famously excavated in 72 hours by ‘Time Team’ in a Channel 4 television program in the U.K. As with many oriental plants bought to Kew, it’s hardiness was unknown and so was planted close to the White House wall to protect it. Records indicate it is a survivor from three trees planted in a row, the others not surviving.

It has a number of claims in history, being linked to Hindu holy places in Kashmir, and also as the tree under which Hippocrates sat under when teaching at Kos.

For many in London it is seen as the London Plane, which is a hybrid of the Planus orientalis and Planus occidentalis and is hard to separate from Planus orientalis.

It is a large tree whose name possibly comes from a corruption of the Palantine although it’s common name more likely stems from it’s range, being from Eastern Europe to India. It prefers moist areas, preferably close to rivers, although it can survive dry periods once it has been well established.