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Native Plant Database

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Tilia americana var. caroliniana (P. Mill.) Castigl.

Carolina basswood, Small-leaved basswood, Downy linden

Tiliaceae (Linden Family)

Synonyms: Tilia pubescens

USDA Symbol: TIAMC

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Found on stream banks, infrequent. Leaves up to 5 inches long, blade broadly ovate with toothed margins, tip emerging rather abruptly from the blade, base of blade at an oblique angle to the petiole, flat to somewhat lobed. Flowers and fruits in a cluster emerging from the midpoint of a distinctive bract up to 4 inches long by an inch wide. Flowers white to yellowish; fruit spherical, about 1/4 inch in diameter when mature.

Carolina Basswood, found at low altitudes, is the southernmost basswood variety. It is uncommon and usually of small size. The wood is of limited value, but like all basswoods, it is a useful honey plant.

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Inflorescence: Cyme
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: More than 100 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX
Native Distribution: South Carolina south to Florida, west to Texas and north to Oklahoma and Missouri.
Native Habitat: Moist soils of valleys and rocky uplands; in hardwood forests.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Honey Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Tilia americana var. caroliniana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Tilia americana var. caroliniana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Tilia americana var. caroliniana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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