Fertilization at the time of planting had little effect on seedling survival or growth Vegetative Reproduction- Basswood sprouts prolifically, and this vegetative regeneration can be managed for sawtimber.
Sprouts commonly originate on the stump at the ground line, and vigorous sprouts occur over a wide range of diameter classes Almost all trees 10 cm 4 in in diameter and smaller will produce sprouts and more than half of sawlog-size trees can be expected to produce stump sprouts However, early thinning of stump sprouts preferably before they reach 5 cm 2 in d.
Clumps should be thinned to not more than two stems; such thinnings will reduce the incidence of stem degrade due to decay, seams, and sweep 23, Because an extensive root system already exists, a basswood sprout has a higher probability of replacing a parent stem than does a sugar maple seedling.
Thus, the ability to produce abundant stump sprouts allows basswood to maintain itself in a stand with the more shade-tolerant maple despite the much larger numbers of sugar maple in the subcanopy Growth and Yield- This species reaches a height of 23 to 40 m 75 to ft with a d. Under favorable conditions, trees sometimes attain a height of 43 m ft and a d.
Estimates of maximum longevity generally exceed years. Basswood grows faster than most other northern hardwood species. On the same site, basswood often exceeds sugar maple and yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis in site index by 1. Diameter growth for basswood averaged 3 mm. The same site under managed conditions produced substantially higher growth rates.
Annual diameter growth average for a crop tree release was 4. Relatively narrow bark ridges and V-shaped fissures, with new light-colored inner bark visible in the fissures, represent a high-vigor basswood. In contrast, low-vigor trees have scaly bark with wide bark ridges and shallow, short fissures, frequently producing a rather smooth surface Two phases can be noted in the renewal of cambial activity for basswood.
The first phase is the reactivity of cambium that occurs independently of the initial meristematic activity within the overwintering buds. The second phase, accelerating cambial activity after bud-break, is presumably under the influence of primary growth Winter stem contraction for basswood often exceeds stem expansion from the previous growing season.
The amount of winter shrinkage in basswood stems was greater than that of yellow birch, sugar maple, or hemlock Tsuga canadensis The period of shoot elongation for basswood in northern areas is shorter than that for other hardwoods-only red oak and sugar maple had shorter periods of terminal shoot elongation among seven species studied in northern Wisconsin.
Based on an average of three growing seasons, shoot elongation for basswood began in May and was completed by the first of June Longer periods of shoot elongation have been noted for open-grown basswood in Illinois and basswood plantations in Ontario mid-May to mid-August. Chlorophyll is found in xylem rays and primary xylem of basswood twigs Although the photosynthetic contribution is not large, it may have seasonal significance when leaves are absent.
Rooting Habit- The initial taproot observed in basswood seedlings gives way in saplings to a system of lateral roots 5. This early root development is gradually obscured by the intensive development of oblique roots in the central mass, and surface lateral roots extend out from this mass Adventitious roots have developed on the lower stem of basswood engulfed by dune sand 4. Reaction to Competition- Although basswood is less shade tolerant than its common associate, sugar maple, vigorous sprouting and rapid sprout growth allow it to persist under the selection system.
Overall, American basswood is most accurately classed as tolerant of shade. This great sprouting vigor also helps it compete with the abundant regrowth following clearcutting. On an excellent site in the central Appalachian hardwoods, basswood was second only to sugar maple in number of stems 7 years after clearcutting.
On a good site and a fair site, however, basswood was not among the five most numerous species during the same period For reproduction from seed, the shelterwood system should provide the partial shade necessary to control competing vegetation, and to create a microclimate suitable for germination. After basswood is established, the overstory should be removed.
Closely spaced, forest-grown trees develop straight, columnar trunks and narrow crowns, but open-grown trees have short stems and many large branches. Damaging Agents- Basswood plantations established on weed-infested old-field sites are susceptible to girdling by mice and voles, and completely girdled trees die.
In a southern Ontario plantation, 44 percent of the basswood stems were completely girdled and 39 percent were partially girdled The species responsible for the girdling, the meadow vole, does most of this damage feeding beneath the snow. Rabbits also feed heavily on seedlings and small saplings in both plantations and natural stands. Basswood seeds are eaten by mice, squirrels, and chipmunks, thus reducing the chances of seedling establishment.
Many different insects attack basswood, but few serious insect problems exist. The linden borer Saperda vestita makes long, irregular tunnels, particularly at the base of the tree, and may damage weak, very young, or overmature trees. Local infestations of defoliators may occur. The primary ones include the linden looper Erannis tiliaria , basswood leafminer Baliosus nervosus , spring cankerworm Paleacrita vernata , fall cankerworm Alsophila pometaria , whitemarked tussock moth Orgyia leucostigma , gypsy moth Lymantria dispar , and forest tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria 1, The leaves and flowers are both edible, with young leaves being most tender.
Because basswood is so soft and light, it is perfect for hand carving. Native Americans used the soft inner bark to make baskets, tangle-free ropes, twine and fishing nets. The Ojibwa tribes use basswood fiber to tie unripe wild rice plants before harvest.
The basswood twine is sewn to a woman's blouse in such a way that she can tie rice plants even when working alone. Basswood trees are not fussy or high-maintenance, and they tend to live about years. These trees are quite hardy and thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8.
The fast-growing trees can shoot up two feet each year until they reach about 65 to 70 feet tall. The two-toned leaves are green on the upper surface and a lighter green underneath. This is not a one-act show, because after the flowers, the basswood leaves change to soft yellow, dark gold and tan every autumn.
Basswood trees prefer moist soil although they also thrive in clay, loamy or sandy soils. Soil acidity doesn't seem to affect them, and they will grow in a wide range, from highly acidic to highly alkaline soils. Plant Basswood trees where they will get full sun to partial shade.
These hardy trees are rarely bothered by disease or insects. Basswoods are useful when planted as shelter-belts, or shade trees for large yards. Two varieties, Fastigiata and Redmond basswood trees, do not seem to cause much root damage, so they make excellent street trees. You can order basswood or American linden trees from local nurseries or by mail from specialty growers such as Greentec Nursery www.
For summer blooms, lots of shade and a hardy tree, plant basswood trees. Paul Barbano writes about gardening from his home in Rehoboth Beach. Contact him by writing to P. Box , Lewes, DE Garden Journal. Paul Barbano. July 29, Bees use the nectar to make spectacular linden flower honey, a somewhat spicy gourmet treat. More Garden Journal Posts. Subscribe to the CapeGazette. Daily Headlines Breaking News.
Most Popular 12, Calendar of Events. All day. Lewes Lights registration. Fall Clothing Drive. Dinner Plans? Sussex County Annual Food Drive. Christmas Craft Bazaar. Randy Re: Basswood longevity abi- u. Both T. Niether species is decay-resistant. These giant hulks that are so famous are rotten, resprouting organisms. There is so much rot, regrowth, fusions, etc.
This make it more mysterious, more romantic. This in turn leads to exaggeration and mythology. Hopefully some of them are still there. Your experience with basswoods shows why it is important to have some old growth stands set aside throughout the range of each species.
You never know what local adaptations you will find. Slow growing individuals or many species are often more decay resistant than fast growing ones. I wonder if we could find some basswoods like the ones you describe somewhere in northern MN, which would be even colder than Maine.
I'm especially curious about the degree to which small local genetic adaptations explain the growth characteristics that we find on our best tall tree sites and how much of the extra height of the trees on the best sites can be attributed to the adaptations. Interestingly for the region of Massachusetts for which we have large amounts of data, the same percentage range seems to apply to white pine. My initial thoughts are that the difference may be a measure of the degradation of the growing stock for one region relative to the other.
That's simplistic, I'm sure, but it may not be too far fetched. There is something to be said about local adaptation.
Ed Schulman wrote about this in Science magazine in the s about the longevity of bristlecone pine. He thought that the stressful growth conditions helped extend longevity.
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