 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 <unk> ( 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 . 
