Limes
What are they?
For a long time, lime trees were placed in theor own family, the Tiliaceae, but more recent research has resulted in them being moved into a larger Malvaceae family, with the mallows.The lime trees of the temperate Northern Hemisphere (often referred to as Linden trees) should not be confused with the plants that produce the green citrus fruits that we also refer to as limes and which are completely unrelated. In urban environments, limes are perhaps most infamous for attracting large numbers of aphids. These aphids produce honeydew which drips from the trees onto parked cars and streets and then acquires a covering of a black, sooty mould.
Where are they found?
We have native limes that are woodland trees and often considered to be indicators of good quality, ancient woodland. Other species are widely planted in a great variety of habitats and the hybrid Common Lime is abundantly planted as a street tree and as avenues in cemeteries and parks.
Identification
Limes are generally all rather similar, having broad leaves with cordate bases (heart-shaped) and flowers carried in lose clusters beneath a curved, blade-like bract. The flowers are followed by small, globular seeds that are wind dispersed by means of the bract, which spins like a helicopter blade when adrift from the tree and carries the fruits away from the parent. Identification requires noting details of the flowers and of the hairs on the underside of the leaves.
Common Lime Tilia x europaea
Introduced and abundantly planted as an urban tree in all kinds of amenity spaces and also in copses, churchyards and hedgerows in the wider countryside. Flowers July. Forms a large tree to over 40m in height and most notable for the abundance of vigorous suckers and epicormic growths that sprout from the lower trunk and roots and which are generally not seen in the other limes. Young twigs typically green with red on sections exposed to full sun. Leaves with prominent tertiary veins on upperside and tufts of buff hairs in the leaf axils on the underside. Flowers and fruits are carried in pendulous bunches that hang beneath the leaves. Common Lime is a hybrid between Large-leaved and Small-leaved Limes and may very rarely occur as a natural cross, but overwhelmingly it exists as a cultivated tree.
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Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata
Native in older, managed woodlands, particularly in Central Norfolk and South Suffolk/North Essex. Also widely planted elsewhere, especially as a hedgerow and roadside tree in recent years. Flowers July. Forms a large tree to over 20m in height and can form very broad specimens were it has been coppiced for a long period of time. Leaves relatively small (3-8cm in length and the same in width) without prominent tertiary veins on upperside and with tufts of golden hairs in the leaf axils on the underside. Flowers and fruits are carried in bunches that sit above the leaves, horizontally or slightly upright on their stalks.
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Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos
Introduced in East Anglia, though it occurs as a native tree elsewhere in the UK. Planted in small numbers in parks, churchyards and on private estates. Flowers June-July. Forms a large, non-suckering tree to 40m in height. Leaves relatively large (6-15cm in length and the same in width) with a good covering of whitish hairs in the leaf axils and on the veins on the underside. Twigs are typically noticeably downy and often richly red-tinted.
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Silver Lime Tilia tomentosa
Introduced from South-east Europe as an ornamental and occasionally found where originally planted beside roads or in churchyards or parks. Flowers July. Forms a large, non-suckering tree to 30m in height with a thick covering of slightly pendulous branches. Leaves relatively large (6-13cm in length and the same in width) with a dense covering of silvery hairs on the underside which flash white in the wind. Many plants in cultivation are of the form 'Petiolaris' which has particularly long leaf stalks.
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Caucasian Lime Tilia x euchlora
A tree of uncertain origin which most likely originated as a chance hybrid in cultivation. Widely recorded in Cambridgeshire but rarely elsewhere, suggesting a bias to recording; occasional as a street or amenity tree in larger towns and cities. Flowers July. Forms a large, non-suckering tree to 20m in height. Leaves relatively small (5-8cm in length and the same in width) with glossy uppersides and clearly toothed margins; leaf undersides with a few hairs along the veins when young and tufts of buffy hairs in the vein axils. Young shoots and leaf petioles typically yellow-green, sometimes reddish if in full sun. Fruits ribbed when mature. Sometimes favoured as a street tree as it tends not to be attacked by honeydew-producing aphids.
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American Basswood Tilia americana
(American Lime) Introduced from North America as an ornamental tree. Flowers June to July. Forms a large, non-suckering tree to 20m in height and often with a very stout trunk. Leaves large (up to 20cm in length) with a clearly asymmetrical base; leaf undersides with just a few hairs along the veins and small tufts of hairs in the vein axils. Flowers distinctive, having petal-like staminodes.
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