| Tilia× europaea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Avenue of common limes, Hampshire, UK | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Tilia |
| Species: | T. × europaea |
| Binomial name | |
| Tilia× europaea | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Tilia ×europaea, generally known as theEuropean lime,[1]common lime (British Isles) orcommon linden, is a naturally occurringhybrid betweenTilia cordata (small-leaved lime) andTilia platyphyllos (large-leaved lime). It occurs in the wild in Europe at scattered localities wherever the two parent species are bothnative.[2] It is not closely related to thelime fruit tree, acitrus species.
Tilia ×europaea is a largedeciduoustree up to 15–50 metres (49–164 feet) tall with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft). The base of the trunk often featuresburrs and a dense mass of brushwood.[3] Theleaves are intermediate between the parents, 6–15 centimetres (2–6 inches) long and 6–12 cm (2–5 in) broad, thinly hairy below with tufts of denser hairs in the leaf vein axils. Theflowers are produced in clusters of four to ten in early summer with a leafy yellow-green subtending bract; they are fragrant, and pollinated bybees. Thefloral formula is ✶ K5 C5 A0+5∞G(5).[4] Thefruit is a dry nut-like drupe 8 millimetres (3⁄8 in) in diameter, downy and faintly ribbed.[2]
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This hybrid is very widely cultivated, being readily and inexpensively propagated bylayering; as a result, it is often the commonestTilia species in urban areas and alongavenues and streets. It is not however the best species for this purpose, as it produces abundant stem sprouts, and also often hosts heavyaphid populations resulting inhoneydew deposits on everything underneath the trees. Furthermore, there is substantial leaf litter in autumn.[2]
One long-lived example was the "Malmvik lime", planted as a sapling near the Malmvik Manor inStockholm, Sweden in 1618. The tree existed for 381 years until the last part of the tree fell in a storm in 1999.[5] The UKTree Register Champion is atAysgarth, Yorkshire, measuring 26 m (85 ft) in height and 295 cm (9 ft 8 in)diameter at breast height in 2009.[6] Thetree in front of Augustusburg Hunting Lodge in Saxony was planted in 1421 according to the chronicles of Augustusburg.[7]Some 13 limes were planted at Mullary cemetery Co Louth Ireland to commemorate "king Billy's" victory at the battle of the Boyne in circa 1669 as lime are not native to Ireland and they were planted to mark the foreign victory, they remain standing today.
The leaves, except for their stalks, can be eaten raw.[8]
The flowers are used in tea, producing a mildly relaxing effect.[9]
The wood of the lime was commonly used byVikings in theirshields.[citation needed]
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Media related toTilia ×europaea at Wikimedia Commons