the species' name means 'eastern'. (in comparison, the 'western' plane (or american sycamore) is named "platanus occidentalis"). the eastern plane's original distribution was eastward from the balkans. the tree was called "platane" in ancient greek history and literature and by related names in continental europe. equally well known in asia and from anatolia to india and usually called "chinar" or "chenar". in the kashmir valley region, the native kashmiri word for the tree is "boonyi".