Uses
Toxic parts
The flowers are toxic to bumble bees[1].
Edible uses
Notes
Young leaves - raw or cooked[2]. The dried leaves are sometimes used as an adulterant for marjoram (Origanum majorana)[3]. A tea can be made from the flowers. A very good chocolate substitute is made from a paste of the ground fruits and flowers[4]. Trials on marketing the product failed because the paste decomposes readily[4].
Leaves
Material uses
A fibre is obtained from the tough inner bark It can be made into diverse items such as mats, shoes and coarse cloth[5].
Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - much of the seed produced in Britain is not viable, cut a few seedcases open to see if there is a seed inside[7]. 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[7]. 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[7]. 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[7]. 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[8]. Suckers, when formed, can be removed with as much root as possible during the dormant season and replanted immediately[9].
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Tilia tomentosa. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Prefers a good moist loamy alkaline to neutral soil but succeeds on slightly acid soils[1][9]. Grows poorly on any very dry or very wet soil[9]. According to another report this species succeeds in a hot dry position. Dislikes exposed positions[9]. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade[10]. This species thrives in southern England[1], though it prefers a continental climate, growing more slowly and not producing fertile seed in areas with cool summers[9]. 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[9]. The fragrant flowers of this tree are toxic to bees[10]. Trees are usually attacked by aphids which cover the ground and the leaves with a sticky honeydew[10]. Rarely produces suckers. 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[9].
Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Tilia tomentosa. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Tilia tomentosa.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
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References
- ? 1.01.11.21.3 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-01-01)
- ? 2.02.1 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-01-01)
- ? 3.03.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-01-01)
- ? 4.04.14.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-01-01)
- ? 5.05.1 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-01-01)
- ? 6.06.1 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-01-01)
- ? 7.07.17.27.3 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-01-01)
- ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-01-01)
- ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.69.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-01-01)
- ? 10.010.110.2 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-01-01)
- ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-01-01)
- ? Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-01-01)
