The Basswoods 

 THE BASSWOODS OR LINDENS 



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About twenty species of linden {Tilia) are found throughout the world. Six 

 are native to North America, of which one occurs in Canada. They are much used 

 for ornamental planting, particularly in Europe, and a number of European species 

 have been introduced into this country for that purpose. 



The wood is soft, light, very tough, fine in texture, straight-grained, but perish- 

 able. 



TILIA AMERICANA, Linn. BASSWOOD 



Common names: Basswood, American linden, lime tree, white- 

 wood*. 

 French names: Bois blanc*, tilleul d'Amerique. 



The basswood is found from the Atlantic coast westward to southern Manitoba, 

 growing in rich, loamy soil in woods and pastures. 



It is commonly 60 to 70 ft. in height, but sometimes over 100 ft. high and 4 ft. 

 in diameter. The trunk is erect and the narrow, oblong, or pyramidal head is 

 composed of many small branches. The lower branches are sometimes drooping. 



The bark is dark grey, thick, tough, and deeply furrowed. The inner bark is 

 very tough, fibrous, and mucilaginous. 



