Common Name: American Basswood
Scientific Name: Tilia americana
Location: Quadrangle
Identifying Features
The three basswood trees located here on campus have large heart-shaped leaves with sharply-toothed margins. Clusters of fragrant flowers appear in mid-summer. The small round fruits it grows are unusual in that they attach to small leaf-like structures and the whole unit falls to the ground when mature. American Basswoods grow a dome-like crown and its grey or light-brown bark has a pattern of narrow fissures.
Distribution/Geography
American Basswood is mostly found in north-eastern regions of North America. It is most commonly found in Wisconsin and central Minnesota and prefers mesic soil with a high pH level.
Uses
The pale brown wood of the Basswood is commonly used in cheaper wooden furniture or the solid bodies of electric guitars. It is often stained or painted because of its lack of noticeable grain. It is also a good wood for carving and its pale color makes it easy to paint or decorate.
History
The inner bark was used in the past to make rope due to its fibrous nature. Because the wood was relatively light, it was used to create wagon boxes and the bodies of carriages.
Fun Fact
It is often planted on the windward side of an orchard as a protection to young and delicate trees.