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Nom français: Tilleul d'Amérique
Nom vernaculaire: bois blanc

Description ⁴

Tall tree (20-40 meters). Strong and deep root system gives him good resistance against wind. Its leaves are simple, alternately arranged on the twig, heart-shaped and asymetrical at the base. The are sometimes very big (up to 25 cm), but are generally from 5 to 15 cm. You might see basswood in the city with much smaller leaves that are pubescent underneath: it is a planted cultivar different from the wild species. The bark is gray to light brown, with narrow, well defined fissures. Flowers are small (around 1 cm), fragrant, yellowish, arranged in drooping clusters of 6–20 with a leaf-like bract attached to it.
"La particularité la plus distinctive des tilleuls est sans doute l'appareil de dissémination formé par la concrescence d'une bractée très spécialisée avec la moitié inférieure du pédoncule commun. Outre son rôle locomoteur, la bractée semble avoir une autre utilité. Étant en réalité une feuille légèrement chlorophyllienne, elle tend vers la lumière comme les autres feuilles, et soulève la partie soudée du pédoncule commun ; l'autre partie, qui est faible, s'incline sous le poids des fleurs et des fruits. Cette disposition a pour effet de séparer les cymes les unes des autres et de les faire bénéficier plus largement de l'air et de la lumière. Les feuilles, disposées horizontalement sur deux rangs, forment aux fleurs un abri parfait contre la pluie. Aussi les abeilles fréquentent-elles les tilleuls, même durant les pluies de durée." (Frère Marie-Victorin)

Ecology ⁴

Found in the south of Qc and north-east US. It is dominant in the sugar maple–basswood forest association. Basswood grows in rich soils with relatively low pH. Basswood flowers provide abundant nectar for insects, it is a beneficial species for pollinators. The seeds are eaten by chipmunks, mice, and squirrels. Rabbits and voles eat the bark, sometimes girdling young trees.

Uses ⁴

The wood is pale brown and very soft, it is especially adapted for wood-carving.
The foliage and flowers are both edible, though the tender young leaves are more palatable. Flowers make a nice aromatic tea.
The flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (obtained from the wood) are used for many medicinal purposes including the treatment of colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headaches. It is used as a diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the digestive tract), and sedative.
The inner bark is very tough and fibrous, used in the past for making ropes.
Basswood is an important plant in apiculture, it gives a good dark spicy honey.

Fontes e Créditos

1. (c) Wendy Cutler, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TiliaAmericana(7479_(2574237069).jpg
2. (c) Ryan Hodnett, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basswood_(Tilia_americana)_Bark_-_Guelph,_Ontario_2013-11-30.jpg
3. François André Michaux (book author), Augustus Lucas Hillhouse (translator), iii (illustrator), eee (engraver), sem restrições de direitos de autor conhecidas (domínio público), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NAS-133_Tilia_americana_var_caroliniana.png
4. (c) Alice Roy-Bolduc, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)

Mais informações

• BioDiversity4All taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Calflora
• CalPhotos
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• OregonFlora.org
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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