THE BASSWOOD FAMILY. TILIACE^ 



THE basswoods or lindens are a large family but are not 

 represented on the western side of North America. A single 

 species reaches the interior of the continent and is found in 

 southeastern Manitoba. 



On this continent members of this family are always trees; 

 they have large, simple, alternate leaves and regular perfect 

 flowers, mostly in sets of five parts The fruit in our species 

 resembles a nut, but in reality is a drupe in which the outer 

 covering is not fleshy. 



The family is noted for possessing tough fibrous bark. Jute 

 fibre is made from one of its members. 



I. THE BASSWOODS 

 Genus Tilia 



The basswoods are all trees and usually large. They have 

 large, simple, alternate leaves with stipules which fall away 

 very early. The flower consists of five petals, five sepals and 

 numerous stamens, all inserted on the receptacle. The petals 

 have a petal-like scale at the base of each and the stamens are 

 collected in groups, one at the base of each scale. 



The bark is rough, thick and corky on the outside, but tough 

 and fibrous within. This fibrous bark has been used for many 

 purposes both in the older countries and among the pioneers 

 of America. 



This genus is confined entirely to the temperate parts of 

 America, and mostly to the eastern part. 



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