Plane tree fruit

In autumn these small balls with a diameter of about 3cm, consisting of seeds surrounded by hairs, are a familiar view in all european towns. The plane is one of the most popular street trees there. I don't know, whether it is also planted in North America. The little hairs, of which always some fall off, can itch nastily in the eyes, and even cause inflammations.

The plane tree has been planted since the antique. Nowadays exclusively the "mapleleaved plane" Platanus x acerifolia is used. It is supposed, that it is a bastard between the north american Platanus occidentalis and the oriental Platanus orientalis. But this is not sure.