American basswood

(Tilia americana var. americana)

Conservation Status
American basswood
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FACU - Facultative upland

     
  Midwest

FACU - Facultative upland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FACU - Facultative upland

     
           
 
Description
 
 

American basswood is a fast-growing, deciduous, hardwood tree. It rises on a single or often two or more stems, usually from suckers. In Minnesota mature trees are usually 50 to 70 tall and up to 36 in diameter at breast height. Large individuals can reach 90 in height. It is a long-lived tree, often surviving over 200 years.

The trunk is straight and is distinct into the upper part of the crown. There are often suckers growing at the base of the trunk. The crown is relatively small, symmetrical, smooth, and rounded. The branches are ascending and arching, with tips ascending. When struck lightly with the handle of a tool the trunk sounds hollow.

The bark on young trees is thin, smooth, and light gray. As it ages it becomes moderately thick, dark grayish-brown, with deep, V-shaped fissures and long, narrow, flat-topped, scaly, vertical ridges that are transversely divided into short blocks.

The twigs are moderately stout, zigzagged, and hairless. They are deep green in the first season, becoming deep red in the winter, and light grayish-brown in the second year.

The buds are green or red, 3 16 to ¼ long, oval, shiny, and hairless. They have 2 bud scales. There are no terminal buds. The leaf scars are half-oval with 5 to 10 bundle scars.

The leaves are deciduous, alternate, and not lobed or divided (simple). They are thin, broadly egg-shaped to nearly circular, 3 to 6 long and 2 to 5 wide. They are on 1 to 2¾ long leaf stalks. The blades taper abruptly at the tip to a sharp point with concave sides along the tip. They are heart-shaped and unequal at the base. The upper surface is dark green and hairless. The lower surface is paler green and hairless except for tufts of brown hairs in the leaf axils. The margins are coarsely toothed, the teeth sharp and forward pointing with elongated tips. In autumn they turn yellow to orange. Leaves on suckers are often much larger.

Flowers have both male and female parts. They appear after the leaves in early July to early August and last two weeks. They are borne in loose, many-branched clusters (cymes) of 4 to 40 flowers drooping from leaf axils. The clusters are on a stalk that is fused for about half its length to a to a leaf-like bract. The bract is yellowish, spatula shaped, 2 to 4 long, and gracefully curved.

The individual flowers have 5 hairy sepals, 5 greenish-yellow to white petals, and about 60 stamens, and are fragrant.

The fruit is a light brown or gray, spherical, hard, nut-like drupe, ¼ to in diameter. It is finely hairy and has a sharp-pointed tip. It matures mid-August to mid-September.

When the basswood seed sprouts the seed leaves, the first pair of leaves to appear above ground (cotyledon leaves), are palmately five-lobed.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

50 to 70

 
     
 

Record

 
 

There are three co-champion American basswoods in Minnesota.

One is on private property near New Germany, in Carver County. In 2018 it was measured at 65 tall and 228 in circumference (72½ in diameter), with a crown spread of 47.

One is on private property near Buffalo, in Wright County. In 2018 it was measured at 67 tall and 222 in circumference (70½ in diameter), with a crown spread of 52.

One is on private property near Mora, in Kanabec County. In 2018 it was measured at 95 tall and 193 in circumference (61½ in diameter), with a crown spread of 50.

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Greenish-yellow to white

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) leaves are much smaller, 1½ to 2½ long. It is a European species often planted on city boulevards. It is not naturalized and is not found in the wild.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Moist to moderate moisture. Deciduous forests, alluvial plains not subject to repeated long-duration spring flooding. Often on moist, northeast-facing slopes.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

Early July to early August

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

Lime nail gall mite (Eriophyes tiliae) creates raised, finger-like galls on the upper leaf surface.

Linden wart gall midge (Contarinia verrucicola) creates round, wart-like or beebee-like galls, each one raised on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces.

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  2/8/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Rosanae  
 

Order

Malvales (mallows, rock-roses, and allies)  
 

Family

Malvaceae (mallow and Hibiscus)  
  Subfamily Tilioideae (linden)  
  Genus Tilia (lindens)  
  Species Tilia americana (basswood)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Tilia americana var. neglecta

Tilia glabra

Tilia neglecta

Tilia palmeri

Tilia truncata

Tilia venulosa

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

American basswood

American lime

American linden

basswood

linn

white basswood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Alluvial

Describing a relatively flat area created over a long period of time by the repeated deposit of sediment from periodic flooding of one or more streams or rivers.

 

Axil

The upper angle where a branch, stem, leaf stalk, or vein diverges.

 

Bundle scar

Tiny raised area within a leaf scar, formed from the broken end of a vascular bundle.

 

Cyme

A branched, flat-topped or convex flower cluster in which the terminal flower opens first and the outermost flowers open last.

 

Drupe

A fleshy fruit with a single hard, stone-like core, like a cherry or peach.

 

Simple leaf

A leaf that is not divided into leaflets, though it may be deeply lobed or cleft.

 

Sucker

A basal shoot rising from the roots or from a bud at the base of a shrub or tree.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Randy

 
 

Basswood foliage, Freeborn County, MN, August 2017

 
    American basswood      
           
 

Basswood nutlets, Freeborn County, MN, August 2017

 
    American basswood      
           
 

Larger leaf on a basswood sprout, Freeborn Co., MN, May 2017

 
    American basswood      
           
 

Freshly fallen American Linden near MN/IA border

 
    American basswood      
           
 

Basswood, Rice County, MN, October 2016

 
    American basswood      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Tree

 
    American basswood      
           
 

Leaves

 
    American basswood   American basswood  
           
 

Bark

 
    American basswood      
           
 

Cotyledon Leaves

 
    American basswood   American basswood  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  American Linden
J.Steinbock
 
  American Linden  
  Tilia americana - American Basswood
Virens (Latin for greening)
 
  Tilia americana - American Basswood  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  American Basswood
tubesoleum
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 23, 2010

Tilia Americana. Arnold Arboretum, Boston. July 2010.

   
  Basswood Fruit Taste Test
MiWilderness
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 1, 2011

Tasting the fruit of the Basswood tree, Tilia americana.

   
  Trees with Don Leopold - American basswood
ESFTV
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 4, 2012

No description available.

   
  Basswood Tree Identification Video Response to Leaf Life Bushcraft
MiWilderness
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 27, 2013

Winter tree identification of basswood, Tilia americana. Basswood provides food, fire, shelter, and medicine making it one of my favorite trees.

This is a video response to Craig's contest here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZHkr23ilP0

Thanks Craig!

This wild edible plant video explains a bit more about basswood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP0zWL6p-oQ

More shrub and tree identification videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnRZog-vvno&list=PL69BBBB171107F34B

www.facebook.com/michigan.wilderness

www.twitter.com/MiWilderness

Thanks for watching, subscribing, and supporting this channel. If you like this video please give a thumbs up and share it with others. If you have any questions or tips please leave a comment.

   
  Edible Tree Buds Basswood
MiWilderness
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 10, 2012

Eating Basswood leaves: http://youtu.be/v69QDpgUFuY I hope you like it.

Being both edible and medicinal, basswood tree buds are a good winter food source. Low hanging branches are typically found making harvest quick and easy.

The plump red alternating buds of basswood have a tender and moist texture like okra or aloe vera with a mucilaginous quality that coats and soothes the throat. Also, the leaves, flowers, cambium inner bark layer, and seed scan all be eaten. The seeds were reportedly used to make a chocolate substitute. The flowers can be used to make a refreshing tea which is also considered to be an herbal remedy. The shiny young leaves can be harvested in abundance and taste excellent raw and in salads. I consider basswood leaves the iceberg lettuce of the forest although it likely has far more nutrients and energy.

There are many more bush craft, survival, and every day uses for basswood. The fibrous inner bark can be used to make large ropes, but it's rather weak as small diameter cordage. The rope was once used for rigging on ships as the fibers were both long, abundant and strong when twisted into large diameter.

The lightweight wood has a non-distinct grain which is excellent for woodworking and carving. It one of the best woods for use in friction fire requiring very little pressure and speed compared to other woods like cedar, autumn olive and box elder. Bees use the pollen to make a high grade of honey.

The genera for this plant is Tilia and there are several varieties of basswood. Depending on your geographic location they are commonly called basswood, linden or lime trees.

More plant videos: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69BBBB171107F34B

Thanks for watching!

Tags: Tree "outdoor sports" Flower Green basswood tilia linden lime "tree identification" "useful trees" wood carving "wood working" cordage rope "herbal medicine" remedy medicinal woodland hiking camping hunting fishing "bush craft" "survival skills" "wild edible plants" pioneer aboriginal "primitive technology" "paleo diet" "health food" garden permaculture "wild crafting" "gear review" "field test" honey maple syrup sap "wild salad" chocolate tea

   

 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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  Randy
August 2017

Location: Freeborn County, MN

Basswood nutlets

American basswood  
  Randy
5/26/2017

Location: Freeborn Co., MN

Larger leaf on a basswood sprout

American basswood  
  Randy
5/23/2017

Location: near MN/IA border

Freshly fallen American Linden

American basswood  
  Randy
October, 2016

Location: Rice County, MN

American basswood  
           
 
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