CHAPTER IV. 



I. Simple Alternate Leaves. 



2. With teeth. A. Edge not divided. 



THE LINDENS, ETC. 



American Linden, The American linden, which some- 

 or Basswood. times grows under favorable circum- 



Tilia Americana. , .. on , -.. 1 . , . , 



stances 160 feet high, is best known 

 by the name of basswood. In the northern part of 

 New Hampshire it never seems to attain any con- 

 siderable size. Most of the basswood which may 

 be found in the White Mountains is half hidden 

 among the shrubbery ; but if one comes across a 

 handsome, large, heart - shaped leaf with strongly 

 marked veins and sharply pointed, irregular teeth, 

 and with tiny tufts of rusty hairs on the back ex- 

 actly at the junction of the veins, he may be pretty 

 sure it belongs to this tree. If the irregularity 

 of the toothed edge is examined, it will be seen 

 that there is often a regular alternation of fine and 

 coarse points ; it would seem as though Nature had 



first edged the leaf with bold, sharp notches, and 



43 



