Small-leaved lime

This attrative tree is found in southern England and the midlands. Like all limes the sweet smelling flowers attract large numbers of insects - so much so that the trees are said to humm or buzz in the summer.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Linde Linden Lynd Lyne Line
Generic name	Lime
Latin name	Tilia cordata
Family name	Lime
Latin family name	Tiliaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	12-24m

Leaf

Description	Hairless except brown tufts of hair on the underside of the vein-joints. The leaves are flat surfaced with serrated edges
Shape	Heart/Triangular
Size	3-8cm long and wide
Colour	Medium green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Yellow
Leaf bud	Hairless and fat with two scales- one large and one small
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Green/yellow
Type of seed body	Large winged seed/key
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Grey-brown and slightly craggy. Often has many shoots out of the bark at the base of the tree.
Twig Description	Brown-red in the shade and shining red in the sun.

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Common lime - which has drooping flowers and larger leaves

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	England as far north as Cumbria and into east Wales
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Uncommon across the UK but were it is found it is generally abundant. It is somewhat frozen in its current sites due to poor reproduction from seed
What is its British conservation status?	Frequent

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

Small leaved lime was widely coppiced and used as fuel, hop-poles, bean-sticks, cups, ladles, bowls and morris dancing sticks! This is because it has a tight grain and does not splinter when hit hard. The wood was also a favourite of wood-carvers. This led to large areas of lime woods managed as coppice to give a never ending supply of the wood. The fibrous layer of under-bark called ‘bast’ was twisted into ropes or used to make sandals. The leaves were also useful as fodder for livestock and the very young leaves were a tasty sandwich filling! The blossom can also be used to make tea which was used during the war as a mild sedative. Even the small round fruits are just about edible and have a cocoa-like taste.

Tree lore and folklore

Limes are widely considered a female tree and have links to fertility. It is not really known how this came about but it is thought to date back to the Dark Ages. In France and Switzerland the lime is a symbol of liberty as collections of limes were planted to celebrate different battles which freed the countries from domination by others.

Old tree flowering

Small leaves

Small leaved lime

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees