Although this widespread eastern tree is distributed across Ky., it was probably much more restricted to riparian zones before clearance; it has spread much into farmland and along roads. Barton's (1919) data indicate that in Ky. it was most common on western and southern lowlands; also along the upper Licking Rv. and upper Ky. Rv. It was only a minor component of original woodland across the Bluegrass region (Campbell 1989), where riparian zones were apparently dominated by box-elder (Acer negundo) instead. Platanus is remarkable for its persistent fruits, often falling as late as Feb-Apr; see also, Taxodium, Liquidambar and Gymnocladus. Since seed dispersal occurs at a time of year when water levels are declining after spring floods, water dispersal often results in seed deposition on muddy flats that are highly conducive to germination (Hupp 1992). The cultivated hybrid with P. orientalis L. (a largely Caucasian species) is named P. X acerifolia (Ait.) Willd. .That hybrid is sometimes planted, especially in urban areas. It is distinguished by having 1-2 (3) fruiting heads per peduncle (versus usually single), leaves with lobes often longer than wide (versus broader), and freshly peeled bark greenish (versus whitish). Platanus in general in avoided by herbivorous mammals (e.g. Atwood 1941, Castleberry et al. 1999, Wakeland & Swihart 2009), probably due to terpenoids and tannins. However, several fungi and insects can damage trees. The alien "plane anthracnose" (Apiognomonia veneta) has spread from introduced X acerifolia, which is largely resistant; this fungus often defoliates trees of occidentalis and sometimes kills young vigorous trees (Burns & Honkala 1990).