American linden (Tilia americana)

Also Known As: Basswood, Lime tree
Plant Family: Tiliaceae

Identification Guide: *Print version
Phenophase Field Guide: *Print version

2010 Live Map - View

Did you Know? Native Americans and settlers used the fibrous inner bark (“bast”) as a source of fiber for rope, mats, fish nets, and baskets. Before the widespread availability of synthetics, American Linden was once the material choice for prosthetic limbs. It is still valued for its soft, light, easily worked wood, especially for turned items and hand carving.

Identification Hints: Lindens are highly prized ornamental trees with soft heart-shaped leaves with fine teeth on the leaf margin, uneven bases and fragrant yellow flowers. The American linden has large hairless leaves and hairless flower stalks as contrasted with the southern basswoods (Carolina basswood (T. caroliniana), white basswood (T. heterophylla)). The Florida basswood (T. floridana) has silvery undersides to the leaves. Three European species are common ornamentals: small leaved linden (T. cordata) which has small round leaves 2.5 to 6 cm (1 to 2.5 in) and whitish undersides (but small tufts of brown hairs), and the large-leaved lime (T. platyphyllos) with leaves 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long (but still smaller and more rounded than American linden) with fine short hairs on the under surface of the leaves.

Phenological Observations of Interest: First Leaf, All Leaves Unfolded, First Flower, Full Flower, End of Flowering, First Ripe Fruit, 50% Color, 50% Leaf Fall

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2010 Live Map for American linden

Below you can view the latest 100 observations that have been reported in 2010 for American linden (If the map below is empty then there have not been any 2010 observations reported.)

Use the navigation buttons on the left to zoom in/out and pan around. Click on each place marker to get detail information about that observation.

= First Leaf
= All Leaves Unfolded
= First Flower
= Full Flower
= End of Flowering
= First Ripe Fruit
= 50% Color
= 50% Leaf Fall

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