London Plane trees-Platanus Acerifolia. Although mainly planted as a city shade tree that will withstand excessive levels of air pollution, this huge tree is also a producer of fine timber. Known in the trade as lacewood it commands a very high price. The origin of London plane is not clear. The earliest records are of a specimen in Oxford in the late seventeenth century. A fast growing tree, not only good to look at in summer but with its many twisting branches also a delight in winter.  Although the London Plane produces 'bobble like' fruits, these remain on the tree throughout the winter. Many authorities regard it as a hybrid between eastern (P.orientalis) and Western plane (P.occidentalis). The western plane, (Buttonwood) from America is a sickly tree in Britain, which seems an unlikely parent of the magnificent London plane tree.