American Linden (tilia Americana)
Distinguishing characters: The great distinguishing feature of any
linden is the *one-sided* character of its *bud* and *leaf*. The
bud, dark red and conical, carries a sort of protuberance which
makes it extremely one sided as shown in Fig. 77. The leaf, Fig. 78,
is heart-shaped with the side nearest the branch largest.
Form and size: The American Linden is a medium-sized tree with a broad
round head.
Range: Eastern North America and more common in the north than in the
south.
Soil and location: Requires a rich, moist soil.
Enemies: Its leaves are a favorite food of caterpillars and its wood is
frequently attacked by a boring insect known as the _linden borer_
(_Saperda vestita_).
Value for planting: The linden is easily transplanted and grows rapidly.
It is used for lawn and street planting but is less desirable for these
purposes than the European species.
Commercial value: The wood is light and soft and used for paper pulp,
woodenware, cooperage and furniture. The tree is a favorite with bee
keepers on account of the large quantities of nectar contained in
its flowers.
Other characters: The _fruit_ is like a pea, gray and woody. The
_flowers_ appear in early July, are greenish-yellow and very
fragrant.
Other common names: _Bass-wood_; _lime-tree_; _whitewood_.
Comparisons: The _European lindens_, Fig. 79, of which there are several
species under cultivation, differ from the native species in having
buds and leaves smaller in size, more numerous and darker in color.
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Tree Studies
How To Identify Trees
Group I The Pines
The White Pine (pinus Strobus)
The Pitch Pine (pinus Rigida)
The Scotch Pine (pinus Sylvestris)
Group Ii The Spruce And Hemlock
The Norway Spruce (picea Excelsa)
Hemlock (tsuga Canadensis)
Group Iii The Red Cedar And Arbor-vitae
Red Cedar (juniperus Virginiana)
Arbor-vitae; Northern White Cedar (thuja Occidentalis)
Group Iv The Larch And Cypress
The European Larch (larix Europaea)
Bald Cypress (taxodium Distichum)
Group V The Horsechestnut, Ash And Maple
The Horsechestnut
The White Ash (fraxinus Americana)
Sugar Maple (acer Saccharum)
Silver Maple (acer Saccharinum)
Red Maple (acer Rubrum)
Norway Maple (acer Platanoides)
Box Elder (acer Negundo)
Group Vi Trees Told By Their Form: Elm, Poplar, Gingko And Willow
American Elm (ulmus Americana)
Lombardy Or Italian Poplar (populus Nigra, Var Italica)
Gingko Or Maidenhair Tree (gingko Biloba)
Weeping Willow (salix Babylonica)
Group Vii Trees Told By Their Bark Or Trunk: Sycamore, Birch, Beech,
Blue Beech, Ironwood, And Hackberry
The Sycamore Or Plane Tree (platanus Occidentalis)
Gray Or White Birch (betula Populifolia)
American Beech (fagus Americana)
Blue Beech Or Hornbeam (carpinus Caroliniana)
Hackberry (celtis Occidentalis)
Group Viii The Oaks And Chestnut
White Oak (quercus Alba)
Black Oak (quercus Velutina)
Red Oak (quercus Rubra)
Pin Oak (quercus Palustris)
Chestnut (castanea Dentata)
Group Ix The Hickories, Walnut And Butternut
Shagbark Hickory (hicoria Ovata)
Mockernut Hickory (hicoria Alba)
Black Walnut (juglans Nigra)
Group X Tulip Tree, Sweet Gum, Linden, Magnolia, Locust, Catalpa,
Dogwood, Mulberry And Osage Orange
Tulip Tree (liriodendron Tulipifera)
Sweet Gum (liquidambar Styraciflua)
American Linden (tilia Americana)
The Magnolias
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Informational