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LINDEN, OR BASSWOOD 



{Tilia species) 

 TTIE lindens, basswoods or lins, are a group of 

 forest trees distinctive, yet as a group so simi- 

 lar that they are being considered together. They 

 grow chiefly in the mountains, where they are com- 

 mon and valuable timber trees, attaining heights 

 of 80 feet and diameters of 4 feet. The bark is 

 light brown, deeply furrowed, and is often peeled 

 for making rough camp buildings. The inner bark 

 furnishes bast for making mats. 



The leaves 

 are more or 

 less heart - 

 shaped, 3 to 

 6 inches 

 long, thin, 

 saw - tooth- 

 ed, smooth 

 on both 

 sides in 

 some spe- 

 cies, but 

 w o o 1 y on 

 the under 

 surface o f 

 others. 



The flow- 

 ers are yel- 

 1 w i s h 

 white, in 



drooping clusters opening in early summer, and the 

 flower-stem is united to the middle of a long, nar- 

 row, leaf-like bract. They are very fragrant and 

 from them the bees make large amounts of choice- 

 grade honey. 



The fruit is a berry-like, dry, 1 or 2 seeded and 

 rounded pod, one-quarter to one-half an inch in 

 diameter, covered with short, thick and brownish 

 wool. It remains attached in clusters to the leafy 

 bract, which later acts as a wing to bear it away on 

 the wind. 



The wood is light, soft, tough, not durable, light 

 brown in color. It Ls used in the manufacture of 

 pulp, woodenware, furniture, trunks, excelsior and 

 many other articles. 



72 



LINDEN, OR BAf^iSWOOD 

 Leaf, one-third natural size. 

 Twig, one-third natural size. 



