690 



The Basswoods 



8. TEXAS BASSWOOD-Tilia leptophylla(Ventenat) Small 

 Tilia ptihescens leptophylla Ventenat 



This tree much resembles the Downy basswood, being considered merely a 

 variety of it by some authors. It is smaller in all its parts and smoother. It 

 occurs in low woods of southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas, extending 

 north to Missouri. 



Fig. 642. Texas Basswood. 



Its leaves are thin and membranous, ovate to broadly ovate, 6 to 9 cm. long, 

 unequally truncate or subcordate at the base, abruptly long-pointed, remotely 

 toothed with coarse teeth ; the upper surface is rather smooth and Hght green, the 

 under side somewhat hairy; the leaf-stalk is slender, 2.5 to 4 cm. long. The bracts 

 are sessile or nearly so, small, 6 to 8 cm. long, i to 2.5 cm. wide, abmptly tapering 

 at the base, bluntly rounded at the apex, smooth above and hair}^ beneath. The 

 free portion of the peduncle is about 3 cm. long and bears 3 to 7 small flowers 

 or more. The sepals are broadly lanceolate, about 7 mm. long, about equal in 

 length to the oblanceolate-obovate petals; the spatulate staminodes are i mm. 

 shorter. The fruit is globose, about 8 mm. in diameter, and very hairy. 



