Tiliaceæ

Tiliaceæ, a natural order of exogenous trees and shrubs, or rarely herbaceous plants, mostly natives of the tropics, though a few are found in the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere. They have simple, alternate leaves, with stipules and axillary flowers. As the characters somewhat correspond with those of Malvaceæ, so do the properties of the order, which are generally mucilaginous and wholesome, the bark fibrous. There are about 46 genera and 330 species. Some yield a light and useful timber, as the Lime (q.v.) or Linden tree. The bast of the lime-tree is valuable from its fibrous character; various Indian and American species are useful on this account, but the most important fibrous plants of the order are the species of Corchorus, which yield Jute (q.v.).