Other common names:
American Linden, White-wood French names:
Tilleul d'Amérique Family: Mallow Family (Malvaceae), (Linden Family (Tiliaceae)) Distinctive features: Tree; Roundish leaves, large buds. Flowers: Summer Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Toothed; Large, roundish. Trunk:
Older bark divides into long & narrow vertical ridges or plates. Bark makes excellent cordage (see Notes). Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas; Forests. Books: Trees in Canada: 280 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Common.
Notes:
For more info on making cordage, visit the Wildwood Survival website, cordage section.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: americana: American For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs Photographs:
133 photographs available, of which 16 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
Basswood leaves.
Closer view of a leaf. Note the numerous obvious teeth, and the roundish shape.
Young leaves in the spring (mid-May).
Basswood bark. It is often said that Basswood develops horizontal patterns of holes resembling sapsucker holes. This is true, but sapsuckers DO like Basswood. This photo shows sapsucker holes. The holes that develop naturally on Basswood bark are nowhere near as obvious as these.
A grove of three Basswood trees growing close together. This is a common trait of this species. If you cut down a Basswood tree, the stump quickly sends up numerous young shoots, each of which can grow into a tree.
Basswood bark typically divides into vertical plates. Basswood is ideal for carving, as it doesn't splinter easily.
Another form of Basswood bark; more ridged. Sort of resembles that of Red Oak (Quercus rubra).
Winter twig, showing the large buds. The buds are edible, although somewhat mucilaginous.
Another winter twig.
Basswood bark makes excellent strong cordage. It consists of long interwoven fibres that form an interlocking weave. It peels readily from the tree and is easy to work with. Bark from dead Basswood limbs provides the best material. The best dead limbs are ones that have been dead for a week or two. Any longer and the bark will have dried out a lot.
This photos shows how the bark peels in a nice long string.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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