Common Name: Little Leaf Linden
Scientific Name: Tilia Cordata
Angiosperm or Gymnosperm?: Angiosperm
Brief Description: This is a medium sized tree. It is naturally symmetrical. It is used for various things such as building objects, creating honey, and treating anxiety. Because of its natural symmetry, it is used for landscaping.
Ethnobotony
The tree is used in various ways. The inner bark is used to weave baskets. The outer bark is used to carve. The flowers are used to make honey. The tree is also used for medicinal purposes. Treatments for upset stomach and indigestion are derived from this tree. It is also used as an anxiolytic (a drug used to suppress anxiety). It is a naturally symmetrical tree that grows moderately fast, and has dense leaves and branches making it aesthetically prime for landscaping.
São Paulo Brazil’s Department of Psychobiology has done research that shows why Tilia trees, the group of trees Little leaf Linden belongs to, are effective at relieving anxiety. Their work was published in the academic journal Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais. Authors Carmen Popescu and Callum Hill have published an article titled “The water vapour adsorption–desorption behaviour of naturally agedTilia cordata Mill. wood.” It is about the way Little Leaf Linden’s wood takes in air (sorption), and releases air. The study was conducted on aged Linden wood. The aforementioned authors also published a separate article with a focus on how Little Leaf Linden
responds to heat treatment (heating wood to increase durability).
The tree is used in various ways. The inner bark is used to weave baskets. The outer bark is used to carve. The flowers are used to make honey. The tree is also used for medicinal purposes. Treatments for upset stomach and indigestion are derived from this tree. It is also used as an anxiolytic (a drug used to suppress anxiety). It is a naturally symmetrical tree that grows moderately fast, and has dense leaves and branches making it aesthetically prime for landscaping.
São Paulo Brazil’s Department of Psychobiology has done research that shows why Tilia trees, the group of trees Little leaf Linden belongs to, are effective at relieving anxiety. Their work was published in the academic journal Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais. Authors Carmen Popescu and Callum Hill have published an article titled “The water vapour adsorption–desorption behaviour of naturally agedTilia cordata Mill. wood.” It is about the way Little Leaf Linden’s wood takes in air (sorption), and releases air. The study was conducted on aged Linden wood. The aforementioned authors also published a separate article with a focus on how Little Leaf Linden
responds to heat treatment (heating wood to increase durability).
Natural Habitat
Europe and Western Asia but is also popular
in the Eastern United States.
Europe and Western Asia but is also popular
in the Eastern United States.
Leaves
serrate margins, equilateral base, green above and
paler below, heart-shaped, leaf length - 1¼ to 3 inches, leaf width- 1¼ to 2½
inches, dark green, yellow during fall, small brown hairs in the leaf vein
axils. The leaves can be ovate to cordate. This means that they can be broadest
below or above the middle of the leaf. They are usually slightly broader below,
but are about as wide as they are long.
serrate margins, equilateral base, green above and
paler below, heart-shaped, leaf length - 1¼ to 3 inches, leaf width- 1¼ to 2½
inches, dark green, yellow during fall, small brown hairs in the leaf vein
axils. The leaves can be ovate to cordate. This means that they can be broadest
below or above the middle of the leaf. They are usually slightly broader below,
but are about as wide as they are long.
Bark
Bark is gray and furrowed. Stems are brown at first, and become gray. The bark is strong because it is fibrous (strengthened by fibers).
Bark is gray and furrowed. Stems are brown at first, and become gray. The bark is strong because it is fibrous (strengthened by fibers).
Bark: Bark is gray and furrowed. Stems are brown at first, and become gray. The bark is strong because it is fibrous (strengthened by fibers).
Germination/Pollination
AngiospermBees pollinate the flowers that grow around the leaves. Flowers are pale yellow and grow beneath the leaves. They are monoecious (have both male and female reproductive parts).
AngiospermBees pollinate the flowers that grow around the leaves. Flowers are pale yellow and grow beneath the leaves. They are monoecious (have both male and female reproductive parts).
Creative Writing
It was the path he had taken home every day for the three years since he had become a high school teacher after graduating from Missouri State. The newness of New York City had worn off. The 10 minute walk through the cacophonous city had become more than repetitive. He would meander along the gray sidewalk under the gray afternoon sky past tall gray apartment buildings resting above small businesses below. He absentmindedly wandered past the various small restaurants and the large crowded banks.
This was Andrews’s routine. He even wore the same Kakis and white button up shirt. He carried in his pocket the small tube of anxiety depressants his doctor prescribed. He would take them whenever he felt trapped in the monotony of his life. As he reached into his pocket to retrieve the small pills, he came to a point in his walk that he did on a daily basis and paused. He saw the park.
He recalled an article he had recently read that said “the average psychological moment is 3.5 seconds. Life is full of moments, and we remember less than 5%.” He felt that he was wasting his life by reliving the same moments daily.
He entered the park and started down the path that divided the trees. He came to the lone tree in the small park. He saw the Little Leaf Linden. He taught Biology and Knew trees well. He knew it was an angiosperm with elegant flowers. He knew It was pollinated by bees. He was aware that it was native to Europe. He even knew that chemicals derived from it could be used to treat his anxiety problems. However, he had never seen it as he did know.
He noted the trees natural symmetry. He saw it stretch as high as six men. He noticed it ascend from its strong roots in the ground with natural grace and strength with branches sprawling out and dividing as thin long leaves hang with flowers and seeds. He began to realize the innate beauty of the world and the importance of being present to the moment, rather than being mentally hijacked by guilt for the past and disaster scenarios of the future.
It was the path he had taken home every day for the three years since he had become a high school teacher after graduating from Missouri State. The newness of New York City had worn off. The 10 minute walk through the cacophonous city had become more than repetitive. He would meander along the gray sidewalk under the gray afternoon sky past tall gray apartment buildings resting above small businesses below. He absentmindedly wandered past the various small restaurants and the large crowded banks.
This was Andrews’s routine. He even wore the same Kakis and white button up shirt. He carried in his pocket the small tube of anxiety depressants his doctor prescribed. He would take them whenever he felt trapped in the monotony of his life. As he reached into his pocket to retrieve the small pills, he came to a point in his walk that he did on a daily basis and paused. He saw the park.
He recalled an article he had recently read that said “the average psychological moment is 3.5 seconds. Life is full of moments, and we remember less than 5%.” He felt that he was wasting his life by reliving the same moments daily.
He entered the park and started down the path that divided the trees. He came to the lone tree in the small park. He saw the Little Leaf Linden. He taught Biology and Knew trees well. He knew it was an angiosperm with elegant flowers. He knew It was pollinated by bees. He was aware that it was native to Europe. He even knew that chemicals derived from it could be used to treat his anxiety problems. However, he had never seen it as he did know.
He noted the trees natural symmetry. He saw it stretch as high as six men. He noticed it ascend from its strong roots in the ground with natural grace and strength with branches sprawling out and dividing as thin long leaves hang with flowers and seeds. He began to realize the innate beauty of the world and the importance of being present to the moment, rather than being mentally hijacked by guilt for the past and disaster scenarios of the future.
References
- Gilman, E., & Watson, D. (n.d.). Tilia cordata: Littleleaf Linden. EDIS - Electronic Data Information Source - UF/IFAS Extension. Retrieved October 20, 2013, from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st637
- Guyot, C. (n.d.). Linden - Lime - Basswood Honey. www.honeytraveler.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013, fromwww.honeytraveler.com/single-flower-honey/linden-lime-basswood-honey/
- Little Leaf Linden. (n.d.). www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees. Retrieved October 2, 2013, from www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-125.pdf
- Popescu, C., & Hill, A. (n.d.). Discovery Service for CSU, Chico: The water vapour adsorption–desorption behaviour of naturally aged Tilia co.... EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Retrieved October 12, 2013, fromhttp://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=b7df4fcc-8d42-4e59-bcb8-974671b44cd2%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=106&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=aph&AN=89494554
- Seiler, J., Jensen, E., & Niemiera, A. (n.d.). Tilia cordata Fact Sheet. VT Forest Biology and Dendrology. Retrieved October 20, 2013, from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=89
- Tabach, R., & Negri, G. (n.d.). Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais - Flavonol glycosides found in hydroethanolic extracts from Tilia cordata, a species utilized as anxiolytics. SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online. Retrieved October 20, 2013, from http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-05722013000200008
- UFEI - SelecTree - Tree Detail Record. (n.d.). UFEI - SelecTree: A Tree Selection Guide. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treedetail.lasso?rid=1411