Tilia platyphyllos aka Linden

Tilia platyphyllos, also known as the large-leaved lime or large-leaved linden, is a deciduous tree belonging to the family Malvaceae (Tiliaceae). It is native to Europe, including parts of southwestern Great Britain, and thrives in lime-rich soils. While it is commonly called largeleaf linden or large-leaved linden in most English-speaking countries, it is referred to as large-leaved lime in the British Isles. The name "lime" has been used for centuries and is possibly derived from the word "line" or "lind," although it is not related to the citrus fruit tree. The species epithet "platyphyllos" translates to "with broad leaves" in Greek. This tree is characterized by its brown-grey bark and broad, toothed yellow-green foliage. It grows fairly quickly, forming a dome-shaped canopy. Fragrant cream-colored flowers bloom in June and July. Pollarding, a pruning technique, enhances the golden-yellow color of the young shoots, providing winter interest. Tilia platyphyllos is a moderately growing tree with a narrow dome shape. It can reach a height of 40 meters and has reddish-brown young stems that mature into dark grey bark with fine fissures and furrows. The branches spread outwards at wide angles, and the twigs are reddish-green and slightly pubescent. The leaves are simple and arranged alternately. As the common name suggests, the leaves of Tilia platyphyllos are larger compared to its relative, Tilia cordata (small-leaved lime), measuring 6 to 9 cm (occasionally up to 15 cm). They are ovate to cordate in shape, with a mid to dark green color on both sides. The underside of the leaves is covered in white hairs, especially along the veins, and tapers to a mucronate tip. The margin is sharply serrated, and the base is cordate. The venation follows a pinnate pattern along a midrib. The petiole, covered in fine hairs, typically measures 3 to 4 cm long but can vary from 1.5 to 5 cm. In autumn, the foliage turns yellow-green to yellow. The small, fragrant flowers of Tilia platyphyllos are yellowish-white and arranged in drooping, cymose clusters of 3 to 4. Each flower is accompanied by whitish-green, leaf-like bracts with an oblong-obovate shape. The peduncles that support the clusters are geniculate and range from 1.5 to 3 cm in length. The flowers are hermaphroditic, with 5 sepals, 5 tepals, numerous stamens, and no staminodes. Pollination is primarily achieved through bees. The fruit is a round, tomentose nutlet with a cream-colored, woody shell that measures 1 cm or less in diameter. The nutlet has 3 to 5 ridges. In summary, Tilia platyphyllos, the large-leaved lime or large-leaved linden, is a deciduous tree with broad, toothed yellow-green leaves. It produces fragrant cream-colored flowers in drooping clusters and bears small, cream-colored nutlets. Native to Europe, this tree is commonly known as largeleaf linden or large-leaved linden, except in the British Isles where it is called large-leaved lime.