American Basswood
Tilia americana · Malvaceae (Mallow family, formerly placed in Tiliaceae)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple leaf, deciduous
Shape
Cordate (heart-shaped) or broadly ovate with an asymmetrical base
Margin
Serrate (coarsely toothed with sharp, forward-pointing teeth)
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Palmate-pinnate hybrid venation radiating from the asymmetrical base, with prominent yellowish midrib and primary veins.
Key Features
Distinctively large, heart-shaped leaves with a heavily asymmetrical (skewed) base, coarsely toothed margins, and a long slender petiole.
Description
The American Basswood is a large, stately deciduous tree known for its straight trunk, soft lightweight wood, and dense canopy of massive heart-shaped leaves. In early summer, it produces fragrant, cream-colored flowers that hang in drooping clusters, followed by small, round, woody nutlets attached to a leafy bract.
Habitat
Rich deciduous forests, moist uplands, ravine slopes, and along streams in deep, well-drained, nutrient-rich soils.
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southeastern Canada down to northeastern Texas and stretching west to the Great Plains.
Notes
Northern Minnesota