Tilia americana (American basswood)

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Tilia americana L.

American basswood, American linden

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Malvales	Includes cacao, balsa, lime, linden, basswood, daphnes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, baobab, cotton, kapok, and many others
Family	Malvaceae	Includes okra, jute, cacao, hibiscus, many others
Genus	Tilia	Any tree of the linden genus Tilia. Probably a borrowing from a Mediterranean substrate, found also in Ancient Greek πτελέα (pteléa, “elm”) and Old Armenian թեղի (tʿełi).
Species	americana	“Of or from America”

About plant names...

Bassword is native to eastern North America.

Identification: Trees are up to 80' (24 m) tall, rarely over 100', and roughly oval, but often very irregular in shape. Bark is smooth and gray-green in young trees, becoming furrowed, gray or gray-brown, and fibrous. Leaves are alternate, ovate to cordate, heart-shaped, coarsely serrate, 5-6" (12-15 cm) long, with pinnate veins. Leaves may have light-colored, fuzzy undersides. Flowers are in lacy clusters, creamy yellow, fragrant, appearing from April to July. They hang on long, narrow petioles from white leafy bracts. Fruits are round nutlets ¼" (6.3 mm) in diameter.

Online References:

Floridata.com

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 13 × 10" (33 × 26 cm)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

1/1/2012 · Big Tree Trail • Tudor Richards Natural History and Forest Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 21 cm)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 21 cm)

7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 13 cm)

7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

Tilia americana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Oct 2021.

7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 15 × 10" (37 × 25 cm)

1/1/2012 · Big Tree Trail • Tudor Richards Natural History and Forest Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts

7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 16 cm)

7/17/2013 · Near Nashua River Boat Ramp, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (28 × 18 cm)

7/2/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 19 × 14" (47 × 34 cm)

Range: Zones 2-8:

About this map...