Lindens
Botanical name: Tilia
Lindens
Botanical name: Tilia
Description
Lindens (Tilia)—often referred to as "Basswoods" in the United States—are a group of large, deciduous trees in the mallow family. Many lindens are planted ornamentally, as they produce dense foliage that makes them excellent shade trees. Several species are harvested for their timber, which is lightweight, soft, and very workable, making it excellent for use in craft projects and model-making. Their flowers are also of great value to beekeepers.
Species of Lindens
Silver lime 'Petiolaris'
Silver lime 'Petiolaris' (Tilia tomentosa 'Petiolaris')—often referred to as "Basswoods" in the United States—are a group of large, deciduous trees in the mallow family. Many silver lime 'Petiolaris' are planted ornamentally, as they produce dense foliage that makes them excellent shade trees. Several species are harvested for their timber, which is lightweight, soft, and very workable, making it excellent for use in craft projects and model-making. Their flowers are also of great value to beekeepers.
Japanese lime
Tilia japonica inflorescences consistently have 5 staminodes, which is a reliable trait distinguishing it from T. cordata and T. amurensis.
Amur lime
Amur lime is native to the area along the Amur River, in eastern Asia, the river gives the plant its name. Amur lime is occasionally planted as an urban tree and its inner bark has been used to make shoes. This type of linden tree has showy, fragrant blossoms and attracts butterflies.
Silver linden
Silver linden is a large deciduous tree that shimmers with the breeze. It has creamy white flowers rich in nectar, attracting bees and also being valuable for butterflies. In Romania, there’s a bronze bust of the poet Mihai Eminescu who often spent time under the silver linden tree with his loved one Veronica Micle.
Small-leaved lime
Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) is a deciduous tree that is cultivated all over the world as an ornamental plant in parks and avenues. Honeybees like to visit the flowers; monofloral honey made from this species is considered to be very nutritious. British ship outfitters used small-leaved lime wood for onboard furniture; French shipwrights thought the weak wood was used for shipbuilding and introduced the epithet, "limey," for British people.
American basswood
American basswood (Tilia americana) is a deciduous tree with a wide, rounded crown, very similar to its European cousin Tilia cordata. A subtle difference between the species can be found on the bark - if an orange hue is present in the valleys on the bark, then it is T. cordata.
Large-leaved lime
Large-leaved lime is a plant species native to Europe. Ironically, it grows in soils rich in the mineral called lime. This species' scientific name, Tilia platyphyllos, means "broad leaves." It is widely cultivated around the world as an ornamental tree, often planted in parks and city streets because of its hardy, versatile nature. Wood from the large-leaved lime is used for carving. It is an old species: its fossilized remains have been found in Turkey from the Pliocene epoch.
Manchurian linden
Manchurian linden (Tilia mandshurica) is a deciduous tree that can grow to 12 m tall. Often compared to the American basswood or European linden trees, it produces fragrant, yellow flowers in summer. Foliage changes color in fall before becoming winter deciduous.
Henry's lime
Henry's lime is a deciduous tree growing to 25 m in height, its bark pale grey and fissured. The sea green leaves are cordate, < 10 cm long, with distinctive ciliate margins, and are borne on 3 to 5 cm petioles. The tiny pale, almost white, fragrant flowers appear in clusters of up to 51 cm autumn.
Mongolian lime
Mongolian lime (Tilia mongolica) is an ornamental tree that is popular for its small size, making it ideal for gardens. Its serrated leaves offer several seasons of interest as they emerge as bronze, turn to green in summer, and then to yellow in the fall. The common name, "Mongolian lime," and specific epithet, mongolica, refer to this plant's native range in Mongolia.
Scientific Classification
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