The _leaves_ are opposite on the twigs, compound and consisting of 5
long-oval, rarely 7, pointed, toothed, yellow-green leaflets, set like
the fingers of a hand at the top of slender petioles 4 to 6 inches long.
They usually turn yellow and then fall early in the autumn.
The _flowers_ appear after the leaves unfold; are cream-colored; in
terminal panicles 5 to 7 inches long and 2 to 3 inches broad, quite
downy.
The _fruit_ is a thick, leathery, prickly capsule about an inch in
diameter, and, breaking into 2 or 3 valves, discloses the bright, shiny,
mahogany colored seeds, or nuts.
The _wood_ is light, soft and weak, and decays rapidly when exposed. It
is used for woodenware, artificial limbs, paper pulp, and for lumber and
fuel.
The horse-chestnut, _Aesculus hippocastanum_ L., is a handsome
European tree with a very symmetrical crown. The flowers are larger
than those of our native species and add beauty to the foliage. It
forms a desirable shade tree.
+BASSWOOD+ _Tilia americana_ L.
THE basswood, or American linden, is a rather tall tree with a broad,
round-topped crown. It ranges throughout Illinois and may be found
wherever rich, wooded slopes, moist stream banks and cool ravines occur.
It grows best in river bottoms, where it is common and forms a valuable
timber tree, attaining a height of 80 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. The
_bark_ is light brown, deeply furrowed and the inner bark furnishes bast
for making mats.
[Illustration: BASSWOOD