Practical
Plants

Tilia mongolica

Mongolian Lime

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Tilia genus in the family Tiliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Tiliaceae
Genus
Tilia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
15 m
Spread
12 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves and shoots - raw or cooked[1]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[5]. A refreshing herb tea is made from the flowers. A very good chocolate substitute is made from a paste of the ground fruits and flowers[7]. Trials on marketing the product failed because the paste decomposes readily[7].

Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tea made from the flowers is antispasmodic, diaphoretic and sedative[9].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre is obtained from the tough inner bark It can be made into diverse items such as mats, shoes and coarse cloth[10].

Product or use
Fibre

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - N. China to Mongolia.
Habitat
Mountain slopes, 1300 - 2300 metres in China[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - much of the seed produced in Britain is not viable, cut a few seedcases open to see if there is a seed inside[14]. If possible, obtain fresh seed that is ripe but has not as yet developed a hard seed coat and sow it immediately in a cold frame. It may germinate in the following spring though it could take 18 months[14]. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate. It has a hard seed coat, embryo dormancy and a hard coat on the pericarp. All these factors mean that the seed may take up to 8 years to germinate[14]. One way of shortening this time is to stratify the seed for 5 months at high temperatures (10°c at night, up to 30°c by day) and then 5 months cold stratification[14]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Layering in spring just before the leaves unfurl. Takes 1 - 3 years[13]. Suckers, when formed, can be removed with as much root as possible during the dormant season and replanted immediately[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good moist loamy alkaline to neutral soil but succeeds on slightly acid soils[3][8]. Grows poorly on any very dry or very wet soil[8]. Dislikes exposed positions according to one report[8], whilst another says that it is tolerant of exposure[4]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[6]. Prefers a continental climate, growing more slowly and not producing fertile seed in areas with cool summers[8]. This species flourishes in Britain[3][4]. Lime trees tend to hybridise freely if other members of the genus are growing nearby[11]. If growing plants from seed it is important to ensure the seed came from a wild source or from an isolated clump of the single species[K]. Grows best in a woodland situation, young plants tolerate a reasonable level of side shade[8]. Unlike most other members of this genus, this species does not usually become infested with aphis[4]. Quite tolerant of root disturbance, semi-mature trees up to 5 metres tall have been transplanted successfully. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 5. 1983 - 1984. Royal Horticultural Society 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

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  10. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

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  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  12. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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  14. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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