Tilia amurensis

Tilia amurensis, commonly known as the Amur lime or Amur linden, is a species of Tilia native to eastern Asia. It differs from the better-known Tilia cordata in having somewhat smaller leaves, bracts, and cymes. It is an important timber tree in Russia, China, and Korea, and is occasionally planted as a street tree in cities with colder climates.

Description

A large tree. It grows 15-30 m high and spreads 10 m wide. The bark is thin. The leaves are dark green and rounded. They have narrow tips and teeth along the edge. They turn yellow in autumn. The flowers are cream. They are in clusters.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw, though this is considered a famine food used only when other options have been exhausted. A very good chocolate substitute can be made from a paste of the ground fruits and flowers, though attempts to market the product failed because the paste decomposes readily. Flower tea is also a recognised use for this species.

Medicinal Uses

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

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the eastern forest in Manchuria. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Korea, Manchuria, Russia, Siberia,

Cultivation

Prefers a good moist loamy alkaline to neutral soil but succeeds on slightly acid soils. Grows poorly on any very dry or very wet soil. Dislikes exposed positions. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade. Prefers a continental climate, growing more slowly and not producing fertile seed in areas with cool summers. Grows best in a woodland situation, young plants tolerate a reasonable level of side shade. This species is closely related to T. cordata. It is also closely related to Tilia japonica, differring in having smaller leaves and bracts, and shorter cyme. Lime trees tend to hybridise freely if other members of the genus are growing nearby. 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. Trees are usually attacked by aphids which cover the ground and the leaves with a sticky honeydew. 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.

Propagation

Much of the seed produced in Britain is not viable — cut a few seedcases open to check for a seed inside. Where possible, obtain fresh seed that is ripe but has not yet developed a hard seed coat and sow it immediately in a cold frame; it may germinate the following spring, though it could take 18 months. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate due to a combination of hard seed coat, embryo dormancy, and a hard coat on the pericarp, and may take up to 8 years. To shorten this, stratify the seed for 5 months at high temperatures (10°c at night, up to 30°c by day) followed by 5 months of cold stratification. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough and grow on in the greenhouse through the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Layering can be done in spring just before the leaves unfurl and takes 1–3 years. Suckers, when produced, can be removed with as much root as possible during the dormant season and replanted immediately.

Other Uses

The fibrous inner bark is used to make sandals and similar items.

Notes

These have also been in the Tiliaceae.

References (7)

• BARANOV,
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1418
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 300
• Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 15(2):253. 1869
• Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

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