Tilia heterophylla, Vent.

Form.—Height 60-90 feet, diameter 2-3 feet; trunk long, straight, and slightly tapering; crown dense and rounded.

Leaves.—Alternate, simple, oblong, ovate to orbicular-ovate, 5-8 inches long, firm, apex pointed, truncate or heart-shaped and usually very unequal at base, upper surface bright green, under surface silvery, whitened with a fine down.

Flowers.—June-July; perfect; regular, fragrant, yellow-white; 5-15 in drooping cymose clusters; peduncle attached for half its length to a thin, oblong, greenish bract.

Fruit.—A spherical, woody, nut-like drupe about the size of a pea, borne singly or in clusters on a common stalk attached to the bract.

Bark.—Deeply furrowed, grayish-brown.

Wood.—Similar to and used for the same purposes as that of the preceding species.

Range.—New York to Florida, west to Alabama and Illinois.

Distribution in West Virginia.—A common tree in Upshur, Randolph, Tucker, Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, Braxton, Lewis, Webster, Nicholas, Roane, Fayette, Kanawha, Gilmer, Monongalia, Marshall, and in several other counties. It is more abundant than the foregoing species of Tilia.

Habitat.—With other hardwoods in rich soil of mountains and high hills.

Notes.—The White Basswood is a valuable forest tree in West Virginia, though the commercial size is now becoming rare in most sections. It is a rapid grower and is easily propagated. This tree is highly recommended for timber and for ornamental use. The most noticeable difference between this species and the foregoing is found in the leaf surface.