Flavour of limes (Tilia species)

 

Winds had stripped all the leaves from lime trees but this large-leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos in Wolsingham churchyard is still holding on to a few of its winged seeds. Unlike the small-leaved lime T. cordata and common lime T. x europaea, the seed capsules of this species have distinctive raised ridges.

Autumn leaf fall has exposed the architecture of this magnificent mature common lime in a field at Stanhope in Weardale.

Common lime, a natural hybrid between large-leaved and small leaved limes, frequently has large burrs on its trunk that sprout a chaotic forest of twigs; in this one the burr is mid-trunk and its twigs have formed a massive skirt of small branches that would sweep down to ground level if they hadn’t been browsed by sheep: so, in this case, more like a ballet dancer’s tutu than a skirt.

All that twiggy burr growth from burrs at the base of the trunk makes common lime easy to propagate cheaply from cuttings, so it's often planted as an amenity street tree - but then the burrs have to be trimmed at the end of every growing season - like these two examples in the image below.

A Tree-spotter's Guide to Buds: part 2

White poplar Populus alba winter buds are covered in a dense felt of fine white hairs that, from a distance, make the twig look as though it's been dipped in white emulsion. The white hairs cover the underside of the leaves too, which flash green and white when they flutter in the breeze in spring and yellow and white when they change colour in autumn.

Alder Alnus glutinosa buds have this beautiful violet-purple sheen that intensies in spring, as the buds begin to swell

Common lime Tilia x europaea buds, which are rounded and have few bud scales, develop a deep crimson hue when they're exposed to sunlight, but on their shaded underside (right hand twig above) they remain green. The purple pigment is produced in response to bright sunlight.

Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa buds are also tinged red but the twigs are chestnut brown. Notice how the buds below the terminal bud sit on a little shelf.

... and this is rowan Sorbus aucuparia, possibly the least attractive buds amongst native species, whose hairy, pointed buds lack shiny scales.

For part 3 see http://cabinetofcuriosities-greenfingers.blogspot.com/2009/12/tree-spotters-guide-to-buds-part-3.html

For part 1 see http://cabinetofcuriosities-greenfingers.blogspot.com/2009/11/tree-spotters-guide-to-buds-part-1.html

For more posts on tree ID click here