Botanical name:                  Tilia x europaea

Family:                                   Tiliaceae

Common Name:                   Common Lime, Linden

Habitat and Distribution

A naturally occurring hybrid between the Large-leafed lime, T. platyphyllos, and the Small-leafed lime, T. cordata. Both are native to British woodlands, but it is uncertain whether the hybrid is native, or an introduction long ago. Commonly found throughout N.W. Europe where it is planted for shade and ornament. They will grow in all types of fertile soils and in all conditions.

 

Description

A deciduous tree, to 40 metres (130 ft) with a trunk thickness of up to 3 metres (10 feet). Common lime has a tall, billowing crown of ascending then arching branches, the crown and bole is often a mass of twiggy sprouts. The heart shaped, dull green leaves open from shiny red-brown buds and are prone to aphids that drip honey-dew onto all beneath them, forming a host to sooty mould. Clusters of pendent, fragrant, pale yellow-green flowers are borne in early July. The flowers are followed by drooping clusters of downy pale green fruits about 0.8 cm (0.3 in) long.

Timber

Lime is not widely grown commercially; most British timber comes from old, ornamental parkland trees.

Lime wood is soft, fine textured and ivory white in colour, it cuts well in all directions provided that the tools are thin-edged and sharp. Burr wood, though rare, has a translucent, soft golden figure with darker markings.

Lime has a fibrous inner bark known as bast or bass that was once used for rope making, hence its alternative name, basswood.

Showing hybrid vigour in its relatively fast growth rate, it reaches harvestable size in 50-80 years.

Uses

Lime has often been used for mirror frames, gilded chairs and tables, as it is suitable for steam bending and its smooth surfaces take paint well. It is the preferred wood of carvers, such as Grinling Gibbons who used it for ornate swags and cherubim.

 

Location within the arboretum:

A pair of specimens is located on the Furniture Makers Walk, towards the northern end, just south of the Main Drive. Mature specimens line the road to the north and south of the obelisk and also the Main Drive, west of the obelisk to the entrance to the arboretum car park.

Furniture Makers Trees at The Arboretum - Kew at Castle Howard

 

September 2005

Mature tree in leaf

Mature tree in winter

Old tree showing burrs

Bark of a young tree

Bark of a mature tree

Flowers

Fruit forming

Mature fruit

Leaf

Veneer

Grinling Gibbons carving

Modern carving of lime wood

Detail of English torchère, circa 1775, in lime and pine.