The bracts, which are shaped like long, slender leaves, may serve as wings for the purpose of wind dispersal or may function primarily as flags to attract nocturnal pollinators. Seed Production and Dissemination White basswood seeds ripen in September and October following pollination and are dispersed in the winter and spring. Little information exists on fruit set and seed dispersal of this species. As with most tree seeds, natural germination is best on mineral soil. Seedling Development Little is known about the early growth of white basswood.
Germination is epigeal.
Vegetative Reproduction White basswood sprouts vigorously and commonly grows in clumps of three to six or more stems. Although clump growth is good, the trees are frequently defective and susceptible to sleet and wind damage. Typically, the bole is free of branches, smooth, and cylindrical. No volume or yield tables are available for white basswood. Although white basswood is not distinguished from American basswood in this survey, the latter species grows only in the northern and westernmost portions of Virginia and North Carolina.