American Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Sycamores tend to grow along waterways and in floodplains, wherever they can be near water. You will find this sycamore hanging onto the bank of a creek bed in the Park Ridge East forest in Bloomington (although the picture of the whole tree with buildings in the background is of a sycamore at the IU Arboretum). The sycamore near the creek stood out to me because a large portion of its root system was exposed, likely because the creek has dried up and the soil has eroded away some. Despite this, the tree, which was supporting two trunks, still stood upright. I also find sycamore bark fascinating in general; I am very drawn to the camouflage-like pattern and how the bark sheds nearer the top of the trunk.