All species look alike microscopically.
The word tilia is the classical Latin name, probably from the Greek ptilon , wing, referring to the wing like bract of flower clusters. Tiglio Americano, Tilleul Americain, Tilo Americano, Tuleul Americain, white basswood. The natural range of American basswood is from southwestern New Brunswick to central Quebec, Ontario and southeast Manitoba, south to eastern North Dakota and northeastern Oklahoma to northern Arkansas and Tennessee, east to North Carolina, and north to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Basswood may grow to be more than 140 years old. The trees have straight trunks, with most of the bole limb-free, and narrow, short crowns.