203 



WHITE BASSWOOD. 

 Tilia heterophylla, Ventenat. 



FORM — Usually 50 GO ft. high but may reach u height of 90 ft. with a diameter of 4S feet. 

 It becomes as thick but not so high as the Basswood. Trunl; straight, clean, slightly tapering. 

 Crown dense, broad, rather rounded. 



BARK — Similar to that of the Bas.swood, page 202. 



TWIGS — Similar to those of the Basswood, page 202. 



BITDS— Similar to those of the Basswood, page 202. 



LEAVES^.\ltemate, simple, variable In outline, oblong-ovate to orbicular-ovate, 5-8 inches 

 long, firm in te.\-ture, short taper-pointed at apex, deeply toothed on margin with sharp 

 teeth, unequally hcart-shap<^d to truncate at base; upper surface dark green and smooth, 

 lower surface silvery-white am! finely hairy. Leaf-stalk slender, i length of blade. The side 

 of the leaf nearest the branch is the largest. 



LEAF-SCABS — Similar to those of the Basswood, page 202. 



FLOWERS— Appear about June or July. Perfect, regular, sweet, fragrant, yellowish-white, 

 5-15 in drooping cymose clusters. The long peduncle which bears the flowers is united for 

 iihout half its length with a conspicuous green bract. 



FRUIT — A woody, spherical, nut-like drupe about the size of a pea. Occurs singly or in small 

 clusters with a common stalk attached to a leafy bract and often persists far into winter. 



WOOD — Similar to that of the Basswood, page 202, only about 2 pounds lighter. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The White Basswood, also known as White Linden, 

 has the general characteristics of the Ba.sswood, page 202. It can be distinguished from 

 the latter by its leaves which are slightly larger, silvery-white and finely hairy on the lower 

 surface, while those of the Basswood are green and sniootli. Tlie Basswood alFO reaches a 

 somewhat larger size and has a wider distribution in this State than the White Basswood. 



RANGE — New York to Florida, westward to Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA — Locally in the northeastern, eastern, and southern 

 [■arts. Sparse in the niounUiincus parts. Not Inown to occur in the western part. 



HABITAT — Usually found In rich woods in mountainous regions. Tolerates dense shade, 

 l.ut llirivHs in full liffht. Occurs in mixture with other hardwoods. Common on limestone soil. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — ^Thls tree is of little commercial importance in this State 

 on account of its limited distribution. Farther south it is more abundant, being the prevail- 

 ing Basswood of West Virginia. It is one of our most attractive ornamental trees. 



