Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Tilia americana
Basswood
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Tilia glabra, Tilia americana neglecta, Tilia neglecta

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; orbicular and peltate leaf shape

Inflorescence: dichasium

Flowers: perfect; 5 merous; complete, regular; yellow, white; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Rich woods; xeric dunes; dry steep slopes of riverbanks and ravines.

ILPIN Notes: To common. Maybe causes hayfever; flowers can be used as a tea; important honey tree; fruits ground into chocolate substitute. The seeds and bark of this species are a food for terrestrial furbearers, especially rabbits. It is also a good den tree. The fruit provides food for small mammals, especially eastern chipmunks. Glabrous leaves; petioles without milky sap; glabrous, red winter buds; fruit is nut-like, dry, globose, indehiscent. 2, 20, 27, 28, 29. Form-balled and burlapped, seeds. Best wood available for food container, particularly butter tubs, as it imparts no odor or taste to the contents. Flowers can be used as a tea; important honey tree; fruits ground into chocolate substitute. Good den tree Stellate pubescence on lower surface of leaves; fruit nut-like, dry, globose, indehiscent.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: insect, bee
  • Dispersal: mammal
  • Mycorrhizae: ectomycorrhizal
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: deer: good
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 5

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