Basswood, Tilia americana, is an adaptable native tree with few pests, aromatic flowers and pleasant foliage. It's overall shape tends to be symmetrical, pyramidal in youth, rounded with age. The leaves are simple (i.e., singular, not multiple leaflets), alternately arranged in the branch, with a broad heart shape up to 15 cm long. It produces creamy yellow, fragrant flowers from mid-June-mid July. A relatively soft wood, it works exceptionally well when tooling and is valued for hand carving. The inner bark, or bast, can be used as a source of fiber for making rope or for weaving such items as baskets and mats. It is a notoriously poor firewood.
This particular large basswood tree, growing out of rock, has been of intrigue for decades... survival of the fittest. The cache is located within the road allowance please DO NOT TRESPASS, please view the tree from the road only.
Grey-Bruce Tree-O-Caching has been organized by the Bruce-Grey Woodlands Association to cultivate enjoyment, knowledge, and tree species identification of interesting/significant trees around Grey and Bruce counties. If there is good response, we will add a new series next year!