Tilia americana
The American Basswood is a fairly large tree that can be found in the eastern
half of the United States and can reach as far south as Tennesse. They prefer moist
soils and are usually found in valleys. The average height of one
of these trees is 70 to 90 feet tall and the trunks can be 2-3 feet in diameter.
It normally grows in hardwood forested areas.
The wood is valued because it is soft, light and is good for making boxes, yardsticks and furniture. The bark is a light, silvery-gray color. It is pretty smooth and can be finely ridged on branches and young trunks. The leaves are heart shaped and broadly ovate. Their veins reach out palmately and they're notched at the base of the blade. The top of the leaf is dark green while the bottom remains a shade of light green. The flowers that grow on the trees have five petals, fragrance, and a creamy color. The flowers are done blooming by the end of June. The American Basswood's fruit is a gray colored fruit that appears in October.
American Basswood is known as a beautiful shade tree. It's nickname is "Bee-tree".
It gets this name because when the flowers bloom in June the tree is covered with bees.
Bees particularly like this tree because of it's very strong flavored honey.
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