| Basswood (Tilia americana) Linnaeus, 1753 |
| Synonyms: Tilia caroliniana, Tilia floridana, Tilia georgiana, Tilia heterophylla (see Flora of North America online for more synonyms), American Linden |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
Tilia americana is native to eastern North America, from southeast Manitoba east to New Brunswick, south to Florida, east Texas, and throughout Mexico. It grows in forests and lakeshores with mesic soils; 10-800 m. This is a deciduous tree, 18-37 m in height; trunk diameter is ca. 1-1.5 m. The bark is gray to light brown, with well-defined fissures. Life expectancy is ca. 200 years. The leaves are simple, alternate, ovate to cordate, 10-20 cm long, with serrated margins and an acuminate apex; dark green in summer, yellow-green to yellow in the fall. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, and fragrant, with five sepals and petals; arranged in cymes. The fruit is a small nutlet, 5-10 mm in diameter. Flowering April to July. T. americana is pollinated by bees and other insects.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)