American Basswood Tree, Tilia americana


The leaves of the American Basswood Tree are arranged alternately with broad leaves that have a simple complexity. The margin of the leaves are broad, not lobed, and toothed. The shape of the leaves are slightly lopsided and heart shaped. They also have long petiole.
This tree was located a little off of wetlands on the solid ground but still within 100 ft. of the pond.
What I had previously not known that this tree is a common food source for many kinds of animals. When the flowers bloom, they are a source of pollen for bees, rabbits and squirrels eat the bark of the tree, and caterpillars eat the leaves. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_tiama.pdf
This is a tree that was somewhat difficult for me to identify, there was many other trees that also had a heart shape to them, because of this I couldn’t tell if I had already taken a picture of this tree, so I had to keep referencing my picture. What made this tree distinguishable was the lopsided heart of that most of the leaves had.

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