The specific name "pseudoplatanus" refers to the superficial similarity of the leaves and bark of the sycamore to those of plane trees in the genus "Platanus", the prefix "pseudo-" (from Ancient Greek) meaning "false". However, the two genera are in different families that are only distantly related. "Acer" and "Platanus" differ in the position in which leaves are attached to the stem (alternate in "Platanus", paired or opposite in "Acer") and in their fruit, which are spherical clusters in "Platanus" and paired samaras (winged fruit) in "Acer".