The Lindens 



for the sides of mountain streams. It occurs at Ithaca, New 

 York, and following the Alleghanies south from Pennsylvania, 

 extends to Florida and Alabama, and west to Illinois, Kentucky 

 and Tennessee. The leaves are narrower in most cases than those 

 of the Northern species, but they vary in size and form, averaging 

 somewhat larger than those of T. Americana. The fruits are 

 globular, with two seeds in each. 



The Downy Basswood (7. pubescens, Ait.), like the 

 Northern species, has leaves that are green on both sides, but this 

 species is distinguished by the rusty hairs that line its leaves 

 and coat its young shoots. It is a small tree, with leaves, flowers 

 and fruits reduced in size. It is a basswood in every character, 

 and need not be confused with the other native species. Its 

 flower blade is rounded at its base, while the others taper narrowly 

 to the short stem. 



This little basswood follows the coast from the Carolinas to 

 Texas. It occurs also in Long Island. It is too rare to have any 

 importance as a lumber tree, and it is not a desirable species for 

 cultivation. 



A large tree, with pubescent leaf linings and flower stalks, 

 has been discovered growing in various localities from Montreal 

 to Georgia and Texas. Collectors have assigned it to Tilia 

 pubescens, because it is a hairy species. It does not fit the de- 

 scription, having larger features throughout, and the seed bract 

 being narrowly obovate, tapering to the base. These may be 

 merely variations from the type species. Professor Sargent 

 accepts Nuttall's name, Tilia Michauxii, in his Manual. The 

 tree is little known as yet. 



European Lindens 



Under the Linnaean and trade name, Tilia Europcea, many 

 different species of lindens have been imported by American 

 nurserymen, and these trees are widely planted, especially in the 

 Eastern States. Tilia vulgaris, with small leaves green on both 

 sides, is a favourite avenue tree, beside which the American bass- 

 wood looks coarse indeed. This is the linden that lines the famous 

 Berlin thoroughfare, "Unter den Linden" — which so disappoints 

 the average tourist. To judge the lindens of the Continent by 

 these trees would be like judging American trees by specimens 



397 



