American Linden Tree

New book is a great guide to Iowa's trees

Quite often I am asked, "What kind of tree is that?" and most often I don't have a clue. In my defense, though, I do know oaks, hickories and maples because we have them in our yard, and if there are flowers or fruit hanging from a tree, I can usually identify it.

Not quite good enough, is it, considering the number of different trees we have in the state of Iowa? However, the University of Iowa Press has just released the third edition of "Forest and Shade Trees of Iowa" written by Peter J. Van Der Linden and Donald R.Farrar with color photos and information on all the trees native to Iowa and others that have been introduced and thrive in our state.

The first part of the book focuses on tree identification. Most of us identify trees by their leaves in the way they are arranged, shape, edges, they are dull or shiny, rounded or pointed, but in winter when the branches are naked, it seems impossible to distinguish one from another.

No, say the authors of this book. You can tell by the characteristics of the twigs, by the scars from the leaves that have fallen, by the buds that develop early and the tree silhouettes--round, columnar, oblong, oval, pyramidal and, of course, the bark color and patterns.

The second part of the book concentrates on keys to summer trees in Iowa.

Here, just to name a few, you can find the differences between pines and spruces, the many different maples, birches, poplars, cherries, plums and, of course, Iowa's own oaks.

Then the book opens up to illustrations of trees, their leaves, bark, fruits, and nuts along with descriptions of each. There are at least 10 pages devoted to different oaks from black to white, red to swamp to Chinkapin, which is native from the Loess Hills all the way east to Winneshiek County.

Perhaps you have never heard of Wahoo or Nannyberry. I hadn't, but they are native to Iowa, and though a small tree, they have beautiful flowers and fruits. They are good specimens for conservation in rural areas.

One tree I was interested in learning about was the American Hornbeam. On the Market and Johnson streets corner, directly across from the main entrance of Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, is this large beautiful tree that I have been told is very, very old. It has a twisted trunk and, as this book describes, a muscled appearance. Even in winter it is very attractive with reddish-brown branches.

Checking with field specialist Patrick O'Malley from Johnson County Extension, he thinks it is a Hornbeam, which is native to our eastern part of the state and also somewhat in the center of the state.

Tree Speak | Casey Trees: Tree of the Month - American Linden

The American linden, also commonly known as American basswood or lime, is a tree native to North America and traditionally found throughout New England, Quebec, New Brunswick, the Great Lakes region and downward into the South. When fully mature, the American linden can grow to a very impressive size, with fully developed specimens ranging from 75 to 130 feet in height and three to four feet in diameter. There are a few noteworthy characteristics to help identify the American linden. Its bark is vertically ridged and gray in color, with quite long, overhanging limbs. In late June or early July, small, yellow clusters of flowers bloom at the tip of its branches - a fragrant attraction for honeybees, eager to extract pollen for their production of sweet honey. It is also a deciduous tree, meaning that in just a few months its canopy will be ablaze with autumn color, eventually shedding its leaves for the winter months. American lindens originally lined Massachusetts Avenue during much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Recently, plantings by the Urban Forestry Administration and the work of the nonprofit group Restore Mass Ave have aimed to restore and protect the historic integrity of the American linden along the avenue. The U.S. Capitol Grounds is another location in the city for some great examples of the tree. You can take a look at the Casey Trees Map to locate American lindens across D.C.

The Tree Book, A Practical Guide to Selecting and Maintaining the Best Trees for Your Yard and Garden

Familiar trees and their leaves

Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

American bee journal

The Outlook