Tilia americana
Owner: Ed Dehooghe
Nominator: Ed Dehooghe
Height: 24 m (78.7 ft)
Diameter: 51.59 cm (20.3 in)
Circumference: 162.0 cm (64 in)
Description
American Basswood is a large, rapid-growing tree that prefers deep, moist soils. It can be found throughout southern Ontario and Quebec, and parts of Manitoba, as well as the north central and north eastern United States. Basswood is one of the major species, with sugar maple, beech, ash, hickory and oak in the Deciduous Forest Region of southern Ontario. It has a relatively soft wood that works exceptionally well and is valued for hand carving. The inner bark, or bast, can be used as a source of fibre for making rope or for weaving such items as baskets and mats. Basswood flowers produce an abundance of nectar from which choice honey is made. In fact, in some parts of its range basswood is known as the bee-tree.
Crow, T.R. (1990, December). Silvics of North America, Volume 2: Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Retrieved date (2010, December 14th) from http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
Basswood Leaf & Flowers
(R. Merrilees, 2009)