The Spanish Plane Tree (Platanus Hispanica) is a popular urban roadside tree in Mallorca, a deciduous tree that grows to a good size and with smooth bark that falls off in yellowish patches. It is extensively cultivated as an ornamental tree, and is a commonly planted tree in Mallorcan pueblos and towns for its leaved roof  giving welcome shade during the hot Summer months. I took the photo for a different reason, though; I was now interested in the small ball-shaped seed fruits.

The Platanus Hispanica is also a very emblematic tree in the island capital, Palma. Very elegant promenades can for instance be found in the Passeig des Born and also, the Rambla dels Ducs de Palma de Mallorca, amongst others, all proudly lined with Spanish Plane Trees.

Over the next two or three weeks, these trees will be pruned back quite severely the way they are every year, to allow new growth to come forward during Springtime.

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 9th, 2010. The time was 13:17:13.