THE LINDENS, ETC. 



47 



American Linden Seed 



Closely related to the tree just described is a small- 

 leaved basswood (Tilia piibescens) not over forty feet 



high. In this species 

 the leaves are usually 

 two or three inches 

 long; they are thin, 

 rather hairy be- 

 neath, and the 

 fruit " bract " 

 is rounded at 

 the base, not pointed or tapering as in Tilia Amer- 

 icana', the fruit is also rounder than that of other 

 species. This tree is common from New York south 

 and southwest. 



There is another native species of basswood, com- 

 mon in the mountains of Pennsylvania and in the 

 South and Southwest as far as Tennessee, called white 

 basswood {Tilia heterophylla). Its leaves are very 

 large, sometimes seven inches long, smooth, oblique, 

 deep, shiny green 

 above, and silvery 

 white and velvety 

 beneath, with pur- 

 plish veins. This 

 tree grows to a 

 height of from 50 to 60 feet. Although my draw- 

 ings do not show any especial lopsidedness to the 



Seed of Tilia pubeacens. 



