257 



Is practically odorless, hence, is a desirable wood to contain food pro- 

 ducts. Its principal uses are lumber, heading, excelsior and veneer. The 

 supply of this species in Indiana is now practically exhausted. 



In Indiana this species is commonly called linn, and only in a few 

 counties near the Michigan line is it known as basswood. The name 

 basswood is a corruption of the name bastwood, meaning the inner 

 tough and fibrous part of the bark, which was used by pioneers for tying 

 shocks of corn, and other cordage purposes. However, Dr. Schneck 

 gives the name whittle-wood as one of its common names; and in some 

 localities it is called bee tree, because bees find its flowers rich in honey. 



Linn is adapted to a rich moist soil, transplants fairly well, and 

 grows rapidly. It has been used to some extent as an ornamental and 

 shade tree, but its use as a street shade tree is no longer recommended 

 because it is not adapted to city conditions, and is killed by the scale. 

 It could, however, be recommended as an integi-al part of a windbreak, 

 or woodlot where the land owner has an apiary. 



2. Tilia lieteropliylla Ventenat. Linn. White Basswood. Plate 

 119. Lisually large trees; bark similar to the preceding but lighter in 

 color; twigs similar to the preceding species; leaves on petioles 2-8 cm. 

 long, blades ovate to nearly orbicular, generaUy 7-15 cm. long, generally 

 oblique at the base, oblicjue-truncate or cordate at the base, abruptly 

 short or long acuminate at the apex, margins serrate with teeth at- 

 tenuate and ending in a gland, at maturity smooth and a dark j^ellow- 

 green above, the under surface generally densely covered with a silvery 

 or gray tomentum, however, on some specimens the pubescence is thin 

 and appears as a stellate pubescence, the tufts of hairs in the principal 

 axils of the veins are reddish brown, in addition to the pubescence red- 

 dish glands are often found on the veins beneath; flowers appear in June 

 or July when the leaves are almost mature; l)racts very variable. 4-15 

 cm. long, generallj' on short peduncles, rounded or wedge-shape at the 

 base, generally rounded at the apex, sometimes merely obtuse, glabrous 

 both above and below, or more or less densely pubescent beneath and 

 generally sparingly pubescent above; pedicels of flowers variable in 

 length, usually about 1 cm. long; styles of flowers pubescent at the 

 base; fruit globose or somewhat ellipsoidal generally 6-8 mm. in di- 

 ameter. 



Distribution. — This species as understood by Sargent ranges from 

 West Virginia to Indiana and south to Florida and west to Alabama. 

 In Indiana it is confined to counties near the Ohio River. Specimens are 

 in the writer's herbarium from Dearborn, Ripley, Switzerland, Jefferson, 

 Clark, Harrison, Crawford, Peny, southeastern Dubois and east 

 Spencer Counties. Practicalh^ in all of its range in Indiana it is found on 



