A member of the linden family in the order Malvales. One species, known as the American linden (Tilia americana), is a timber tree of the northeastern quarter of the United States and the adjacent area of Canada. Tilia is also an ornamental tree. Tilia europea, or lime tree of Europe, is often cultivated along the streets. The lindens are also important as bee trees. The leaves are heart-shaped, coarsely toothed, long, pointed, and alternate. All species of Tilia can be recognized by the winter buds, which have a large outer scale that gives the bud a humped, asymmetrical appearance, and by the small, spherical, nutlike fruits borne in clusters.

The wood of basswood, also known as whitewood, is white and soft and is used for boxes, venetian blinds, millwork, furniture, and woodenware. There are about 30 species in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in North America south to Mexico, but none in the western part. In Asia lindens grow south to central China and southern Japan.