Small Leaved Lime is a deciduous tree growing to 20-38 m tall, with a
trunk up to 1-2 m diameter. Alternately arranged, rounded to
triangular-ovate leaves, are 3-8 cm long and broad. Leaves are mostly
hairless. Small yellow-green flowers are borne in clusters of 5-11 in
early summer with a leafy yellow-green subtending bract. Flowers have a
rich, heavy scent, and attract bees. The fruit is a dry nut-like drupe 6–7
mm long and 4 mm broad. Small Leaved Lime is native to Europe, West Asia
and parts of Russia. It is the national tree of the Czech Republic and Republic of Slovakia.
Medicinal uses:
Lime flower tea is widely used in Europe as a relaxing drink. Herbalists
also give it for fevers, colds, and flu. It is especially useful for
children.
American scientists recently found that children with flu recovered
more quickly and with fewer complications on Tilia tea than with
antibiotics. This bears out the traditional use in Europe of using Tilia
tisanes for colds and "fevers". It is, in fact, the most popular daily
tisane in France, where its gentle relaxing properties are employed to
help parents cope with irritable children.
Identification credit: Tatiana Gerus
Photographed at Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
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The flower labeled Small Leaved Lime is ...