American Basswood

American Basswood (Tilia americana)

Identification

The American Basswood of the genus Tilia can be difficult to distinguish from other members of its genus both native and introduced. This canopy tree has heart-shaped leaves that are finely serrated and uneven at their base. Twigs and buds range from green to red. Flowers are small, white to yellow, fragrant, and grow beneath a large pale-green wing. In the summer and fall, small pale fruits develop beneath these wings. Upon ripening, the entire structure falls and the wing catches wind to aid in dispersal of seeds.

Examples:

Mature leaves and fruits of the American Basswood.

NPS Photo/ W. Kaselow

Young leaves of the American Basswood.

Chris Light via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Flowers of the American Basswood.

Plant Image Library via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0

Leaves of the American Basswood in the fall.

Katja Schulz via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-2.0