Tilia americana
American basswood
Tilia americana, commonly known as American Linden or Basswood, is a deciduous tree prized for its fragrant, bell-shaped flowers. Historically used in traditional herbalism, its blossoms are steeped to create soothing teas known for their calming, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties, offering natural relief from stress and mild anxiety.
- Scientific name: Tilia americana
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae, it is classified under the genus Tilia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tilia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Tilia americana, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In German, it is called Amerikanische Linde, while in Czech, it is known as lípa americká. The Udmurt name for this species is Амерыкаысь беризь, and in French, it is identified as Tilleul d'Amérique. Additionally, in Russian, the plant is commonly called Липа американская.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Amerikanische Linde | Wikidata |
| cs | lípa americká | Wikidata |
| udm | Америкаысь беризь | Wikidata |
| fr | Tilleul d'Amérique | Wikidata |
| ru | Липа американская | Wikidata |
| tr | Amerika ıhlamuru | Wikidata |
| lt | Amerikinė liepa | Wikidata |
| fi | amerikanlehmus | Wikidata |
| hsb | Ameriska lipa | Wikidata |
| nl | Amerikaanse linde | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Tilia americana, exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several continents. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Germany. Its range extends across Central Asia, specifically documented in Uzbekistan. Within North America, the species is widely distributed across Western Canada in provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Additionally, its presence reaches the eastern part of the continent in New Brunswick.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Uzbekistan | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Manitoba | WCVP |
| Western Canada | Saskatchewan | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | New Brunswick | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the American Linden or Basswood, utilizes its leaves as a significant component of its physical structure and physiological function. The leaves of Tilia americana are typically heart-shaped with finely serrated margins and a soft, asymmetrical base, providing a broad surface area for photosynthesis. In medicinal contexts, while the flowers are most frequently harvested for herbal teas, the leaves are sometimes studied for their chemical composition and can contribute to the overall therapeutic profile of the plant.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tilia americana has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeic acid, flavonoid, quercetin glucoside, quercitrin, tiliroside.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercitrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tiliroside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Tilia americana has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anxiolytic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tilia americana has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, insomnia, stroke.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| insomnia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stroke | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |