Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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208 BASSWOOD Tilia americana, Linnaeus FAMILY AND GENUS DESCBIPTION—I'he Linden family. Tiliaceae, comprises about 35 genera with probably 375 species foand in temperate and tropical regions. Tlie mentbers oonsist of trees, shrubs, and a few herbs. One genus, Tilia, alone lias tree represf-ntatives in North America. This genus comprises about 20 species, 8 of which are native to North America and three to Pennsylvania. Two species are described here. The third species, linown as Michaux's Vasswood (Tilia Mlchauxll Null.) Is very rare in this State. Its leaves which are densely pubescent and graylsh-grecn beneath and its floral bract* usually rounded at the base, are distinctive. The bark of the branches is usually smoother and lighter than that of the 2 other native species. FOSM^-A large tree usually attaining n height of 60-70 ft. but may reach a height of 120 ft. with a diameter of 4J feet. Trunk straight, clean, with little taper. Cro>vn dense, broad, rather deep, ovoid or rounded. BARK—On old trunks firm but easily cut, thick, longitudinally-furrowed into flat scaly ridges. Ridges often divided by tranverse secondary furrows. On young stems dark gray and smooth. See Fig. 100. TWIGS—Smooth or very finely hairy, shining, bright red; second year olive, olive-rtd, or covered with a gray skin; usually zigzag, tough, mucilaginous if chewed, covered with scat- tered, dark, oblong lenticels. In cross-section, characteristic blunt conical masses- with inter- vening lighter colored areas are present. BTTDS—^Alternate; terminal bud absent; ovoid, 2-ranked, stout, often somewhat flattened, divergent, usually deep red, occasionally greenish, mucilaginous, smooth or sometimes slightly hairy toward apex. Bud-scnles glabrous, thick, rounded at back, usually 3 visible; one large scale makes bud unsymmctrical. LEAVEI^—Alternate, simple ovate to orbicular, 4-7 inches long, Arm in texture, long-pointed at apex, deeply toothed on margin with sharp teeth, unequally heart-shaped to truncate at base, dark green and shining on upper surface, green and smooth on lower except for a few rusty hairs. Leaf-stalks slender, i length of blade. The side of the leaf nearest the branch Is the largest. LEAF-SCARS—Alternate, large, conspicuous, raised, 2-ranked, containing few to many bundle- scars arranged in a ring or a single curved line, or scattered. Stipule-scars distinct, one narrow, the other broad; often show bunde-scars. FLOWERS—Appear about June. Perfect, regular, sweet, fragrant, yellowish-white, 6-20 in drooping cymose clusters. The long peduncle which bears the flowers is united for about half its length with a conspiciious green bract. FRUIT—^A woody, spherical, nut-like drupe about the size of a pea. Occurs singly or in small clusters with a common stalk attached to a leafy bract and often persisting far into winter. WOOD—^Diffuse-porous; rays distinct, but colorless; light, soft, compact, moderately strong, light brown to nearly white, fine in texture; little difference between spring wood and summer wood. Weighs 28 lbs. per cubic foot. Used in the manufacture of paper-pulp, woodenware, cheap furniture, panels for carriages, kegs, pails, barrel headings, berry boxes. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—The Basswood, also known as Linden, Linoe-tree, Whitewood, Beelree, Whistle-wood, and Lynn, may be distinguished by its large, firm un- equally based leaves with green and smooth lower surfaces, by its smooth bright red twigs, by its alternate, deep red, unsymmetrlcal buds with 2-3 visible scales, by its white flowers arranged in drooping clusters attached to a green bract, and by its woody spherical nut-like dnipe about the size of a pea attached to winged bracts. The dark funnel-shaped areas in the inner bark alternating with lighter areas as seen in a cross-section of a twig are characteristic. The smooth dark gray bark of younger stems and the thick longitudinally-furrowed bark on older trunks are distinguishing features. RANGE—Now Brunswick to Manitoba, southward to Georgia and eastern Texas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Common in the eastern and southeastern parts of the State. Rare in the mountainous parts except In rich valleys. Locally abundant in the western and southern parts. HABITAT—Rarely grows in pure stands, but usually mixed with other hardwoods. Prefers rich soils in bottomlands. It can endure considerable shade. It suffers little from windfall but. occasionally from windbreak upon exposed situations. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIE&—Basswood is one of our Important timber trees on account of the valuable wood and the bark which it produces. Seeds or seedlings may be planted. If seedlings are used, they should be planted early In spring before growth starts. The tree sprout* from the stump very freely (Fig. 98). It grows rapidly, producesr beautiful sweet-smelling flowers, and is rarely attacked by fungi. It I« one of our most attractive ornamental trdes.
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PLATE CXIV. BASSWOOD 1 A floworiiiff branch with iiiatnro leaves, x J. 2. Ix)iigitu(linal section of a Howcr, slightly en- la rjiod. 3. A fruiting branch, x §. 4. A Avintcr twip. x I. "». Section of a winter twiy:. enlarjred. C. -\ leaf scar with liundle scars, enlarged INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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