Tiliaceæ (tiliasee)

pl. [NL. (Ju ieu, 1789), fem. pl. of LL. tiliaceus, of linden-wo linden-wood, pertaining to the linden, ceæ and Sterculiacea, by the two-celled anthers, and usually free stamens with pendulous ovules. There are about 470 species, belonging to 51 genera, cla ed in 7 tribes, of which Brown low i a, Grewia, Tilia, Apeiba, Prockia, Sloania, and Elcocarpus are the types. Their leaves are usually alternate, undivided, and furnished with twin stipules. They bear axillary or terminal flowers, often in small cymes, which are sometimes disposed in ample corymbs or panicles. The order is numerous in the tropics, where they are often weedy herbs, or are shrubs or trees with handsome, usually white or pink flowers. A few genera are timber-trees of north or south temperate regions. They have a mucilaginous wholesome juice, and yield a remarkably tough fiber, used to make fishing-nets, bags, mats, etc. Some produce edible berries, as Aristo telia, Grewia, and Elæocarpus. Some are used for dyeing or tanning; and the fruits of several are employed as astringents. See cuts under jute and Tilia.