There is a tie for the largest American Linden in Colorado, with one tree in Fort Collins and the other in Denver. Herb: American Basswood Latin name: Tilia americana Family: Tiliaceae (Linden Family) Medicinal use of American Basswood: A tea made from the inner bark is applied to burns - it soothes and softens the skin. It is taken internally in the treatment of lung complaints, dysentery, heart burn and weak stomach. Its big heart-shaped overlapping leaves, with an interesting palmate vein design, are as big as grape leaves. [2][3] Common names include American basswood[4] and American linden. …..Reader’s Digest North American Wildlife c. 1982. The Indians soaked the bark for two to four weeks to loosen long fibers. The inner bark was used historically as a fiber source for making baskets, rope, and fishing nets.[11]. Unlike many medicinal uses of plants, linden tea has had a number of scientific studies conducted and papers written. This tree resides in the United Kingdom. Usually made from the European species, Tilia Cordata, linden tea is a well known use of the trees’ flowers, leaves, and bark. The leaves emerge in mid-spring, but the flowers require day lengths of approximately 14 hours and 30 minutes to form, hence T. americana's range is limited to north of the 35th parallel. Honey from linden flowers is said to be some of the lightest and best available. Basswood bark makes excellent strong cordage. It grows faster than many North American hardwoods, often twice the annual growth rate of American beech and many birch species. If planting them, it is recommended to gather the seeds in early autumn and sow them before they dry out and form a coating. “Bass” is a corruption of “bast” which is a type of fiber. They are basically heart-shaped and the lobes at the base are usually unequal. The American basswood is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree reaching a height of 18 to 37 m (60 to 120 ft) exceptionally 39 m (128 ft) with a trunk diameter of 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) at maturity. The flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (obtained from the wood) are used for medicinal purposes. Time of flowering varies by several weeks depending on the latitude; early May in Canada and early June in the extreme southern extent. The American basswood is known for being one of the most difficult native North American trees to propagate from seed, as they not only have a low viability rate (approximately 30% of all seeds are viable), but quickly develop an extremely hard seed coating that may delay germination for up to two years. In North America, the little leaf has been introduced in the most northeastern parts of the continent, where the normal height is said to be 50 to 60 feet. Life expectancy is around 200 years, with flowering and seeding generally occurring between 15 and 100 years, though occasionally seed production may start as early as 8 years. Ethnobotanic: Native Americans and settlers used the fibrous inner bark ("bast") as a source of fiber for rope, mats, fish nets, and baskets. The American basswood is a medium to large tree that usually grows up to 35 meters tall. American basswood (Tilia americana) Click on the images help you identify an American basswood. At one time basswood was the prime material for prosthetic limbs. American basswood is a deciduous tree. The wood is used for liver and gallbladder disorders and cellulitis (inflammation of the skin and surrounding soft tissue). In England, its European relative (Tilia cordata) is known as a Lime tree or little leaf linden. [14][15] It is argued that its mechanism of action is due to the flavonoid quercetin,[16][17] as it inhibits the release of histamine. Tilia americana is a species of tree in the family Malvaceae, native to eastern North America, from southeast Manitoba east to New Brunswick, southwest to northeast Oklahoma, southeast to South Carolina, and west along the Niobrara River to Cherry County, Nebraska. GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS: American basswood is a native deciduous tree. The twigs are smooth, reddish-green, becoming light gray in their second year, finally dark brown or brownish gray, marked with dark wart-like excrescences. To find the trees in City Park, follow your nose! The American basswood can be propagated by cuttings and grafting as well as by seed. By far the easiest way to find linden trees is during and immediately after they bloom as the clusters of flowers (cymes) give the whole tree a distinctive look, as if the undersides of the leaves have been painted a lighter color. Indeed, modern foragers may actually consume more of the tree than the Natives did. The fast-growing American basswood is among the largest trees of eastern and central North America. The American basswood is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree reaching a height of 18 to 37 m (60 to 120 ft) exceptionally 39 m (128 ft) with a trunk diameter of 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) at maturity. In France the leaves were made into a tea (tilleul) and used as a mild sedative. Other sources have suggested the species can live for a thousand years! It is a beneficial species for attracting pollinators as well. Even today the flowers may be used in the making of perfume, As an early variation of “forest bathing,” sitting under the trees was thought to be helpful to epileptics. Finding the 220+ Tagged Trees in Fort Collins' City Park Arboretum. In addition to being a majestic tree in the landscape, basswood is a soft, light wood and prized for hand carvings and making baskets. It is the fourth stem in from the northwest corner of Roosevelt and City Park Drive, two down from the light post and near the little kids’ playground. Monumental Trees lists the tallest American Linden in Europe at 101 feet and the oldest specimen in the Netherlands as about 138 years old. The wood is considered odorless. In form, Basswood is like an oversized European linden (Tilia cordata), featuring similar outline, leaf shape and blooms. The bark is gray to light brown, with narrow, well defined fissures. The bud that… American basswood is dominant in the sugar maple–basswood forest association, which is most common in western Wisconsin and central Minnesota, but occurs as far east as New England and southern Quebec in places that have mesic soil with relatively high pH. Mite galls commonly form on the foliage. Any longer and the bark will have dried out a lot. For countless centuries, materials gathered from basswood … Bark brown, deeply furrowed, scaly; inner layer tough; branches grey, twigs reddish. The leaves are simple, alternately arranged, ovate to cordate, asymmetrical, unequal at the base (the side nearest the branch the largest), 10–15 cm (4–6 in) (can grow up to 25 cm or 10 in) long and broad, with a long, slender petiole, a coarsely serrated margin and an acuminate apex. The fall color is yellow-green to yellow. Height 60' to 80', diameter 12" to 36"; trunk often continues straight into top of dense rounded crown. Overall, seeds are not a major part of the tree's reproductive strategy and it instead mostly spreads by self-coppicing. There are many more bush craft, survival, and every day uses for basswood. [18][unreliable medical source? An usual product first made in the 19th century from the dried flowers and nutlets. These three trees almost form the points of an equilateral triangle. It’s crazy to think that one can use a tree to start a fire, take shelter under it, and then find themselves able to eat and drink from it. Pioneers dubbed it "bastwood" leading to its common name of today. American basswood is a very popular street tree in Minnesota. The first part of this page consists of a number of photographs to aid in identification of Basswood. There is another American Linden on the tree map at B101, which is located on north side of City Park Drive between fields 1 and 2. Both the twigs and leaves contain mucilaginous sap. Zones: 3-9. Active ingredients in the linden flowers include flavonoids (which act as antioxidants), volatile oils, and mucilaginous constituents (which soothe and reduce inflammation). It is low in strength and has a poor steam-bending classification. Basswood Cordage; Basswood (Tilia americana) bark makes excellent and very strong cordage. The roots are spreading, deep and large. Latin: Tilia americana. American Basswood, also known as American Linden, (Tilia americana) has plump, oval, asymmetrical reddish or green buds, which bear only one or two bud scales. American Basswood bark is thin, smooth, dark gray on young stems. The bark is diuretic. The tree was introduced to the UK in 1752, but has never prospered there, being prone to dieback. Form. American Basswood Fruits. The fruit is a small, globose, downy, hard and dry cream-colored nutlet with a diameter of 8–10 mm (5⁄16–13⁄32 in).[2][6][7]. It consists of long interwoven fibres that form an interlocking weave. The flowers of the tree especially have many uses. The bark on an American basswood tree tends to be gray or brown with shallow, flat-topped ridges. The preponderance of bees around the trees give rise to another of its nicknames, the bee tree, not to be confused with the Korean bee tree. For other uses, see, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T61788230A61788232.en, Southern Research Station (www.srs.fs.fed.us), "Managing the Japanese Beetle:A Homeowner's Handbook", "First record of the rare species Pholiota squarrosoides (Agaricales, Strophariaceae) in southwestern Poland", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tilia_americana&oldid=991874573, Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America), Natural history of the Great Smoky Mountains, Articles lacking reliable references from December 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 December 2020, at 07:09. The winter buds are stout, ovate-acute, smooth, deep red, with two bud scales visible. The tree will often support several trunks off its base, will prolifically sprout from stumps, and is a great seeder. [5], The wood is pale brown, sometimes nearly white or faintly tinged with red; light, soft with fine close grain; clear of knots but does not split easily. American Basswood (Tilia americana) is known for the alluring scent and abundant nectar of its flowers, as well as its lightweight, odorless wood which lends itself to the production of food crates and boxes, musical instrument parts, yard sticks and cabinets. American Linden - Tilia americana Basswood Family (Tiliaceae) Introduction: This American native was used for centuries for its fibrous inner bark and fragrant flowers. American basswood is native to the Chicago area and is often used as a specimen or dense shade tree. I consider basswood leaves the iceberg lettuce of the forest although it likely has far more nutrients and energy. Phonetic Spelling TIL-ee-uh a-mer-ih-KAY-nah het-er-oh-FIL-uh Description. Deer browse heavily on young shoots, leaves and winter twigs. Although Tilia cordata is believed to be stronger, T. americana is also used medicinally. Bark. The color of the bark of American basswood is a gray to light brown. Native. Basswood, of the Linden family and also called linden, is a stately American forest tree with a high dense canopy and lower limbs that can droop to the ground. on Tea and Chocolate–Products of the Linden? The crown is domed, the branches spreading, often pendulous. It has a density of 0.4525 (relative to water). A Basswood can grow 65 to 120 feet tall and is indigenous to the Midwest and Northeastern United States with the highest quality Basswood coming from Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. They are perfect, regular, with five sepals and petals, numerous stamens, and a five-celled superior ovary. Beautiful and sturdy, its heart-shaped green leaves and pale yellow fragrant flowers in June make it especially attractive. The buds are plump, although acute at … Its heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers in June make it especially attractive for people, while songbirds and blue jays are attracted to its seeds and use the tree for shelter. The height of American basswood is 18 to 37 meters. Basswood, also known as American Linden is a large native North American tree that can grow more than 80 feet tall. It peels readily from the tree and is easy to work with. The range of this native tree in North America is the East and Midwest. The leaves are used to promote sweating to reduce fevers. The American linden or basswood is one of North America’s edible trees with droopy yellow flowers that bloom in June and characterize its beautiful appearance. Light gray, smooth; becoming dark gray with shallow, vertical ridges. All juvenile basswoods coppice extremely readily, and even old trees will often sprout from the stump if cut. Bark. According to the Kentucky Department of Horticulture, the American Linden was first cultivated in 1752. In the US the American linden (Tilia americana) is also know as American basswood or just basswood. Another common name for Basswood is American Linden, as the tree is in the Tilia genus. The flowers are small, fragrant, yellowish-white, 10–14 mm (13⁄32–9⁄16 inch) in diameter, arranged in drooping, cymose clusters of 6–20 with a whitish-green leaf-like bract attached for half its length at the base of the cyme. The National Champion tree in a Kentucky cemetery, crowned in 2017, has a height of 102′. The US champion (height plus girth plus branch spread) is in the state of Maryland and only towers 83 feet. Uses. Trees can provide a survivor with elements from all four core survival priorities: Shelter, Water, Fire and Food. Rabbits and voles eat the bark, sometimes girdling young trees. Lindens bloom between May and July, although many sources mention June as the primary bloom time. Many benefits, such as relieving hypertension, stomach issues, and pain, helping you sleep, and a reduction of inflammation are reported in alternative medicine articles. Native American Uses of Basswood Basswood Outer Bark Basswood Inner Bark The basswood trees growing along our trails and in our forest today are the direct descendents of trees that grew on this land long before European settlers arrived. American Basswood, also known as American Linden, is a species native to Michigan. Monumental Trees lists the tallest Tilia Cordata at 132.87 feet. Basswood flowers in early summer, and the sweet-scented blooms are frequented by honeybees, which make a delicious honey from the tree. American Basswood is only occasionally planted as a landscape tree. The American Linden (Tilia americana) pictured in this blog is B98, which is across from the trolley station on S. Roosevelt Ave. [7] It is cultivated at least as far north as Juneau, Alaska. This species is particularly susceptible to adult Japanese beetles (an invasive species in North America) that feed on its leaves. Most of the trees are quite tall and if they are tagged, it may be difficult to find the tag, but there is little mistaking a linden in bloom. )Tall, stately tree with spreading round top, 75 to 125 feet high; trunk 2 to 4 feet in diameter. Wood white or pale brown, soft, tough, close grained, free of knots; hard to split. In a short article discussing this “chocolate” the author says it is still possible to make some for immediate consumption or to freeze and includes a recipe. Smooth on upper parts of tree; dark grey, furrowed into narrow scaly ridges; Fibrous inner bark; Distribution & Uses. [8] The mushroom Pholiota squarrosoides is known to decay the logs of the tree.[9]. Its flowers provide abundant nectar for insects. During the autumn its heart-shaped leaves turn a similar dazzling yellow to its flowers. The plant also contains tannins that can act as an astringent. [5] They open from the bud conduplicate, pale green, downy; when full grown are dark green, smooth, shining above, paler beneath, with tufts of rusty brown hairs in the axils of the primary veins; the small stipules fall soon after leaf opening. The buds, like the twigs, can be green or red. americana. Marie, but also in the northwestern corner near the … It is especially popular in heavy metal. American Basswood Leaves: " American basswood (Tilia americana) " by Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org, licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 License. Bean noted that occasionally, enormous leaves measuring 38 cm or 15 in long by 25 cm or 10 in wide appear on thick, succulent shoots. The best dead limbs are ones that have been dead for a week or two. Most sources state our native tree grows to a height of around 70′. American basswood Family: Tiliaceae: tree: leaf: leaf and fruit: bud: bark : The leaves of Tilia americana are simple, alternate and toothed. Image cropped. The second part of this page shows the cordage aspect of Bassswood. was a chocolate-like substance. The tree is stately as … Leaf drop in fall occurs between early and late October depending on the latitude. The Basswood exhibits an oval to round shape with smooth gray to brown bark when young. Its other common name is American Linden. [10], The foliage and flowers are both edible, though the tender young leaves are more palatable. Bark, silhouettes and buds are the three keys to identifying trees in winter. [13][14], Several animal studies showed that the extract of T. americana increased sleeping time by 50 minutes (similar to the effects of diazepam) and decreased movement, which indicates sedative effects. The name basswood came from a use made by native Americans of using its fibrous, tough inner bark or "bast" for making cords, thongs and ropes. It is often planted on the windward side of an orchard as a protection to young and delicate trees. The wood burned to charcoal is ingested to treat intestinal disorders and used topically to treat edema or infection, such as cellulitis or ulcers of the lower leg. It is the sole representative of its genus in the Western Hemisphere, assuming T. caroliniana is treated as a subspecies or local ecotype of T. Bees produce excellent honey with a mildly spicy flavor from its blossoms. The dried flowers are mildly sweet and sticky, and the fruit is somewhat sweet and mucilaginous. The American basswood (Tilia americana) is the only member of the genus Tilia native to Iowa. Trees provide an immeasurable number of materials essential to survival, and studying the different species, as well as … Alternatively the flowers could be added to a hot bath to help insomnia. It is a rapid growing tree of the Central and Eastern hardwood woodlands. At one time basswood was the prime material for prosthetic limbs. It bears unique flowers and large, heart-shaped leaves. The inner bark is very tough and fibrous, used in the past for making ropes.[7]. Buds of different tree species are so distinctive they are an excellent identification tool. Tilia americana is the northernmost basswood species. The wood of the tree, being lightweight and fast-burning, may not be the best choice for heating. heterophylla), basswood. The wood of the tree, being lightweight and fast-burning, may not be the best choice for heating. The flowers also give off a fragrance that can be discerned from a distance. According to the Kentucky Department of Horticulture, the American Linden was first cultivated in 1752. This tree can grow 18-30 m (60-100 ft) tall and have a trunk 40-100 cm (16-40 in) in diameter. It is a common wood for use in the production of solid-body electric guitars, where it is considered an analogue for aspen and poplar, because it is light, strong and resonant, though it is usually used for guitars that will be painted an opaque color, because its lack of notable grain makes it an unattractive candidate for transparent finish. It is native to North America and a common southern Ontario tree, ranging into central Ontario as far north as Lake Nipissing and Sault Ste. Linden tea has a pleasing taste, due to the aromatic volatile oil found in the flowers. Basswood / American Linden Tilia Americana Basswood (also known as American Linden) is often used as a specimen or dense shade tree. Tilia cordata, or the Little Leaf Linden (A 88), is also on the north side City Park Drive. The Iroquois carved the bark for ceremonial masks. Description. ], "Basswood" redirects here. The bark is eaten by porcupines and squirrels, the latter sometimes stripping the stringy bark for nest construction. [12] It is sold generally under the name basswood, but is sometimes confounded with tulip-wood and then called white-wood, and is largely used in the manufacture of wooden-ware, wagon boxes and furniture. The flowers were added to baths to quell hysteria, and steeped as a tea to relieve anxiety-related indigestion, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting. Cultivars include 'Nova', 'Duros' (with an upright crown), the pyramidal 'Frontyard' and the conic-crowned 'Redmond'. Life expectancy is around 200 years, with flowering and seeding generally occurring between 15 and 100 years, though occasionally seed production may start as early as 8 years. Also helpful in identification when they aren’t blooming are the heart-shaped, but saw-tooth-edged leaves. The very fragrant blossoms come with a single bract and hang down like lacy umbrellas. [13], Linden flowers are used in colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headache (particularly migraine), as a diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the digestive tract), and sedative. Bark from dead Basswood limbs provides the best material. One source states a tree in Britain is over 2000 years old, but Monumental Trees lists the oldest as a mere 820 years. Trees can be used for warmth, hydration, food, tools, and self-defense. Along with benefits, most of these articles mention a few drawbacks, such as possible heart problems and drowsiness. This makes it valuable in the manufacture of wooden-ware, cheap furniture, and bodies of carriages; it is also especially adapted for wood-carving. Image cropped. Others have described them as “fireworks.”. It also has minor occurrence in many other forest cover types. The fibrous inner bark can be used to make large ropes, but it's rather weak as small diameter cordage. The straight trunk and bark also help identify the genus. However, the tree was a major source of fiber for the Indians and that’s where the common name, Basswood, comes from. The bark on an American basswood tree tends to be gray or brown with shallow, flat-topped ridges. Native Americans made rope, netting, and baskets out of the inner bark, or bast, of the basswood tree. Both are listed at a height of 92′. For more info on identifying Basswood, please visit the Ontario Trees website. This will then allow germination to occur immediately. Basswood twigs grow in a zig-zag pattern and can be green, red, or brown in color. Prefers moist, fertile soils in valleys and uplands; sometimes in hardwood forests Honey from linden flowers is said to be some of the lightest and best available. Colorado’s champion can be found in Denver at 89 feet, with the second place tree, 72′, found in Fort Collins. Other common names: American linden, basswood, American Basswood. Scientific Name: Tilia americana The flowers are fragrant and insect-pollinated. Linn, American linden, white basswood (var. American Linden or Basswood Tree American Linden, Basswood (Tilia Americana, Linn. The leaves serve as food for caterpillars of various Lepidoptera (see Lepidoptera which feed on Tilia). The Iroquois carved the bark for ceremonial masks. American Basswood Bark: "American Linden bark detail" by MONGO, licensed under the public domain. Tea and Chocolate–Products of the Linden. An oil derived from its seed pods was used as a replacement for olive oil, while the sap can be made into a drink or boiled into a syrup. The wood is used for lightweight projects such as guitars and other instruments, carvings, yardsticks, and veneer. Basswood attracts many insect pests including Japanese beetles and skeletonized leaves are common. Propagated plants grow rapidly in a rich soil, but are susceptible to many pests. Since the middle ages, the tea has been used to cure headaches. The ribbed cocoon maker species Bucculatrix improvisa has not been found on other plants. Basswood is still valued for its soft, light, easily worked wood, especially for turned items and hand carving. The American basswood is recommended as an ornamental tree when the mass of foliage or a deep shade is desired; no native tree surpasses it in this respect. It can take stains and polish without difficulty and it planes, glues, screws and nails well. The roots are large, deep, and spreading. The seeds are eaten by chipmunks, mice, and squirrels. It grows faster than many North American hardwoods, often twice the annual growth rate of American beech and many birch species. Mature Height: This is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree reaching a height of 60 to 120 ft (exceptionally 129 ft) with a trunk diameter of 3–4 ft at maturity. Where It Grows: American basswood is a popular urban tree and is plants in wide boulevards and parks in city landscapes. Basswood is used by skilled artisans and craftsmen alike to create many unique and lovely objects. It is an important timber tree in the Great Lakes states. The wood is soft and has a fine grain, making it a popular choice for wood carving. Unfortunately this concoction did not keep well and production ceased.