THE LINDEN FAMILY 



TILIACEtE Jussieu 



HIS family, comprising about 35 genera, with probably 375 species, 

 consists of trees, shrubs, and a few herbs, which are widely distributed 

 in temperate and tropical regions. The whole family is noted for 

 the fibrous bark, which is of great economic importance, especially 

 the product of the stem of the nearly herbaceous genus Corchorus, which yields 

 the well-known Jute fiber. 



The plants of the Linden family have simple leaves, which are alternate, seldom 

 opposite, accompanied by small stipules that fall off early; the inflorescence is 

 cymose, or sometimes paniculate; the flowers are regular and usually perfect, with 

 5, or rarely fewer, valvate, deciduous sepals; the petals are equal in number to the 

 sepals or fewer, usually imbricated in the bud and often appendaged by a petal- 

 like scale (staminode) at the base; stamens many, in sets of 5 to 10, or distinct; 

 the filaments often forked; anthers 2-celled, erect or versatile; the ovary is free, 

 2- to 10-celled, usually sessile. The fruit is a nut-like drupe in the Lindens, in 

 other genera sometimes berry-like and fleshy or capsular, i- to lo-celled. 



Besides the well-known Linden trees 2 herbaceous genera with 3 species enter 

 the southern part of our area. 



THE BASSWOODS 



GENUS TniA [TOURNEFORT] LINN^US 



HIS genus is composed of some 20 species, all of which are trees of 

 considerable stature, natives of the north temperate zone, widely dis- 

 j, tributed in eastern North America; one species occurs in the moun- 

 tains of Mexico. In Europe they extend several degrees further north; 

 they are not found, however, in western North America, nor in central Asia. 



The leaves are alternate, stalked, unequally cordate or truncate at the base, 

 serrate or crenate, sharply or taper-pointed, with early falling stipules. The white 

 to yellow flowers are sweet and fragrant, in cymes, either axillary or terminal; 

 the long peduncle is united through about half its length with a conspicuous light 

 green bract; the 5 sepals are narrow and thickish; the 5 petals are alternate with 

 the sepals, sometimes with a petal- like scale at the base, imbricate; the numerous 

 hypogynous stamens are inserted upon a short receptacle; filaments thread-like, 

 forked, collected into a group at the base of each petal-like scale, their anthers 

 2-celled, facing outward ; the ovary is sessile, superior, 5-celled ; style elongated, 



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