American linden (Tilia Americana)
Other names: American Basswood, Tilia canadensis, Tilia glabra, Tilia latifolia, Tilia stenopetala
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
The American linden, also known as American Basswood, Tilia canadensis, Tilia glabra, Tilia latifolia, or Tilia stenopetala, is a beautiful tree found in areas of North America. It grows to a height of 15 to 30 metres with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 metres. It is a very popular park tree that adds a touch of romantic nature to urbanized landscapes thanks to its broad, dense crown and flowers with a pleasant, intoxicating scent.
American linden wood has many uses. It is soft, lightweight and easy to work with, a quality much appreciated in carving work. It has also long been used in the manufacture of tools and furniture. Linden wood is also often harvested for pulp, which is then used to make various types of paper. The leaves of the American linden are widely used as cattle feed and the flowers are collected for honey production. The bark of the tree was traditionally used as a source of fibre from which ropes and other types of cordage were made. Not forgetting other traditional medicinal uses, the linden tree was also used to make various teas and ointments to promote health.