Carolina basswood, Linn, Bee-tree, Linden
Tilia americana var. caroliniana
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A tree. The crown is narrow and dense. It grows 9-18 m high. The trunk is 30-60 cm wide. The bark is grey and furrowed. The leaves are large and in 2 rows. They are 6-15 cm long and almost as wide. They are broadly oval with a long point at the tip. The base is unequal. There are coarse teeth along the edge. The veins spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaf stalks are long and slender. The leaves are dark green above and pale green underneath. The flowers are 12 mm wide and have 5 pale petals. They are in clusters in the middle of leafy bracts. The fruit are 6 mm across and nut-like. They are covered with hairs.
These have also been in the Tiliaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist valleys and on rocky uplands in the south of USA. It grows to 600 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
North America, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves