Tilia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Tilia

Tilia platyphyllos
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Tilia L.

Tilia is a genus of between 30 and 45 species of trees in the Northern Hemisphere, in Asia (where the greatest species diversity is found), Europe and eastern North America; it is absent from western North America.

Tilia leaf

The trees are generally called linden in North America, and lime in Britain. Both names are from the Germanic root lind. The modern forms in English went from linde or linne in Anglo Saxon and old Norse, and in Britain the word transformed more recently to the modern British form lime. In the United States, the modern German name Linde, from the same root, became more common, partly to avoid confusion with any other uses of the name.

Tilia species are large deciduous trees, reaching typically between 20m and 40m tall, some species grow as shrubs. Plants of this genus are found through the north temperate regions.

History
Species
- Hybrids and cultivars
Uses
Images for kids
See also

History

The Germanic tribes associated the Linden tree with the goddess Freya. Very often, these tribes held their assemblies, called Thing near or under such a tree. Often, trees that were standing alone somewhere were chosen. These assemblies were used to make laws. They usually lasted three days.

Species

Tilia mongolica

Tilia nasczokinii

Tilia platyphyllos

Tilia americana
Tilia amurensis
Tilia begoniifolia
Tilia caroliniana
Tilia chinensis
Tilia chingiana
Tilia cordata
Tilia dasystyla
Tilia henryana
Tilia heterophylla
Tilia hupehensis
Tilia insularis
Tilia intonsa
Tilia japonica
Tilia kiusiana
Tilia mandshurica
Tilia maximowicziana
Tilia mexicana
Tilia miqueliana
Tilia mongolica
Tilia nasczokinii
Tilia nobilis
Tilia occidentalis
Tilia oliveri
Tilia paucicostata
Tilia platyphyllos
Tilia rubra
Tilia tomentosa
Tilia tuan

Hybrids and cultivars

Tilia × euchlora (T. dasystyla × T. cordata)
Tilia × europaea Common Lime (T. cordata × T. platyphyllos; syn. T. × vulgaris)
Tilia × petiolaris (T. tomentosa × T. ?)
Tilia 'Flavescens' (T. americana × T. cordata)
Tilia 'Moltkei' (hybrid, unknown origin)
Tilia 'Orbicularis' (hybrid, unknown origin)
Tilia 'Spectabilis' (hybrid, unknown origin)

Uses

The tree produces fragrant and nectar-producing flowers, the medicinal herb lime blossom. They are very important honey plants for beekeepers, producing a very pale but richly flavoured monofloral honey. The flowers are also used for herbal tea, and this infusion is particularly popular in Europe.