Plane Tree
Platanus occidentalis
France
There is a Plane Tree on the Greek island of Kos called the “Tree of Hippocrates” which has a circumference of over 12 meters and is said to be over 2,000 years old. It is the perfect illustration of the incredible resistance of this tree species—possibly due to the way it sheds pollutants along with its bark. At maturity, the bark turns into large scales, called rhytidomes, which peel off to reveal a new smooth, soft bark. This molting process inspired Greek mythologists to regard the Plane Tree as a symbol of regeneration. In cosmetics, Plane Tree extract is used for its free radical-fighting properties.
