TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA 83 



fruits globose, 1 / 3 inch, in diameter, black, sweet, 

 containing 2-4 nutlets. Date of flowering: June 1, 

 1916, in cultivation at Chapel Hill. 



LINDEN FAMILY 



(TILIACEAE) 



135. Tilia americana L. American Linden or Bass- 



wood. 



A large tree reaching a height of 130 feet and a 

 diameter of 4 feet, that is said by Pinchot and Ashe 

 (1897), and by Curtis to occur in the mountains and 

 Piedmont and by the former to be sparsely distri- 

 buted through the lower Piedmont and coastal plain. 

 However, according to Ayres and Ashe (1905), this 

 tree occurs in the lower Appalachians only on the 

 western slope of the 'Great Smoky Mountains. Leaves 

 broadly ovate, 3-6 inches long, 3-4 inches broad, 

 toothed, green and smooth on both sides except for 

 axillary tufts of hairs on the under side ; fruits oval, 

 about 1 / 3 inch long, hard, nut-like, tomentose, with 

 short stalks on a common peduncle fastened to a light 

 green leaf -like bract 4-5 inches long, 1-1% inches 

 broad. 



136. Tilia heterophylla Vent. White Linden or Bass- 



wood. 



Usually a smaller tree than the American Linden 

 and much more common in our state. In the moun- 

 tains it is plentiful and is sparingly found near 

 streams in the Piedmont and coastal plain. Leaves 

 23/2-7 inches long, 2-5 inches broad and minutely 



