Linden

The Linden tree shares this Season with Heather and brings with it the same associations and properties.

Basswood or Linden (tilia species)
LindenThe lindens, basswoods or lins, are a group of forest trees distinctive, yet as a group so similar that they are being considered together. They grow chiefly in the mountains, where they are common and valuable timber trees, attaining heights of 80 feet and diameters of 3 feet.

The bark is light brown, deeply furrowed, and is often peeled for making rough camp buildings. The inner bark furnishes bast for making mats.

The leaves are more or less heart-shaped, 3 to 6 inches long, thin, saw-toothed, smooth on both sides in some species, but woolly on the under surface in others.
The flowers are yellowish white, in drooping clusters opening in early summer, and the flower stem is united to the middle of a long, narrow, leaf-like bract. They are very fragrant and from them the bees make large amounts of choice-grade honey.

The fruit is a berry-like, dry, 1 or 2 seeded and rounded pod, one-quarter to one-half an inch in diameter covered with short, thick and brownish wool. it remains attached in clusters to the leafy bract, which later acts as a wing to bear it away on the wind.
The wood is light, soft, tough, not durable, light brown in color it is used in the manufacture of pulp, woodenware, furniture, trunks, excelsior and many other articles. It is a favorite wood of woodcarvers.