Bigleaf Linden/ Large-Leaved Lime - Tilia platyphyllos

Habit and Form

• a deciduous medium to large tree

• typically 60' to 80' tall

• slightly less in width

• medium texture

• moderate growth rate

Summer Foliage

• deciduous, simple leaves

• alternate leaf arrangement

• ovate to cordate leaf shape

• 2" to 5" long

• sharp leaf margin serrations

• dark green leaf color

• pubescent

Flowers

• small, individual flowers in loose drooping clusters

• flower clusters with a leaf-like bract

• light yellow or creamy flower color

• blooms in late June and early July

• fragrant

• bees are attracted to the flowers

Fruit

• small round nutlet 0.5" in diameter

• cream color; ribbed

• slightly ornamental in late summer

Bark

• ridges and furrows

• color is brown

• pubescent, reddish-brown stems

Medicinal Uses

T. platyphyllos is also used medicinally and somewhat interchangeably. The dried flowers are mildly sweet and sticky, and the fruit is somewhat sweet and mucilaginous. Linden tea has a pleasing taste, due to the aromatic volatile oil found in the flowers. The flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (obtained from the wood) are used for medicinal purposes. Active ingredients in the linden flowers include flavonids (which act as antioxidants), volatile oils, and mucilaginous constituents (which soothe and reduce inflammation). The plant also contains tannins that can act as an astringent.

Linden flowers are used in colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headache (particularly migraine), as a diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the digestive tract), and sedative. The flowers were added to baths to quell hysteria, and steeped as a tea to relieve anxiety-related indigestion, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting. The leaves are used to promote sweating to reduce fevers. The wood is used for liver and gallbladder disorders and cellulitis (inflammation of the skin and surrounding soft tissue). That wood burned to charcoal is ingested to treat intestinal disorders and used topically to treat edema or infection, such as cellulitis or ulcers of the lower.

The dried flowers are mildly sweet and sticky, and the fruit is somewhat sweet and mucilaginous. Linden tea has a pleasing taste, due to the aromatic volatile oil found in the flowers.

Linden flowers are used in:

• colds

• cough

• fever

• infections

• inflammation

• high bloodpressure

• rheumatism

arthtitis for attendance.

Sponsors:

Ministry of National Resources

University of Szeged

KEFAG Zrt.

Future of Europe Association