Basswood

Three species of basswood are reported to grow in Texas from the Arkansas line to the Brazos River and westward to Uvalde, Kerr, and Bandera Counties, usually on rich, moist soils. They are rarely over 50 feet tall and 12 inches in diameter.

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 of others.

The FRUIT, a dry, 1 to 2-seeded nut-like drupe, 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, is covered with short, thick, gray-brown wool. It remains attached in clusters to the leafy bract, which later acts as a wing to bear the fruit away in the wind.

The fragrant FLOWERS, a favorite of bees, 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.

The BARK is light brown and deeply furrowed.

The WOOD is light, soft, tough, not durable, and light brown in color. It is used in states where the growth is better for the manufacture of pulp, wooden-ware, furniture, trunks, excelsior, and many other articles. The principal use of basswoods in Texas is for shade and ornament.