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Common Trees 



BASSWOOD 



Tilia americana, Linnaeus 



THE Basswood is a tree of many names. Among them 

 are Linden, Lynn, Lime-tree, White-wood, Beetree and 

 VVhistle-wood. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped to round, 4 

 to 7 inches long, firm in texture, toothed along margin, un- 

 equally heart-shaped at 

 base, tufts of rusty hair 

 often occur in axils of 

 veins. 



The flowers appear in 

 June or July. They are 

 small, yellowish-white, 

 sweet, fragrant, 5 to 20 in 

 a cluster, attached to a 

 wing-like bract by a slen- 

 der stalk. 



The fruit is a woody 

 nut-like berry about the 

 size of a pea. It usually 

 occurs in small clusters at- 

 tached to a wing-like bract 

 by slender stalks, often 

 persists far into winter. 



The bark on young 

 stems is smooth and dark 

 gray, on older trunks it 

 becomes thick and clearly 

 furrowed. 



BASSWOOD 



One-fourth natural size. 



Twijr, one-half natural size. Flower, 



leaf-scar and twig section, 



enlarged. 



The twigs are smooth, 

 shiny, rather stout, bright 

 red. The buds are egg- 

 shaped, 2-ranked, stout, 

 blunt-pointed, usually 

 deep red, with 3 visible bud-scales. 



The wood is light, soft, light-brown to nearly white. It 

 is used in the manufacture of paper pulp, crates, furniture, 

 kegs, pails, berry baskets. 



The Basswood is found from New Brunswick to Mani- 

 toba, southward to Georgia and Texas. It is common 

 throughout Ohio. In the southeastern part of the State it 

 is confined to stream basins, ravines and coves. Rich, moist 

 bottomlands and hillsides are its favorite home. It reaches 

 a height of 70 to 80 feet and sprouts freely. It is a hand- 

 some shade tree, transplants easily, grows rapidly, and pro- 

 duces useful wood. 



