174 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



smaller and commonly glabrous, except the tufts in the forks of 

 the veins on the under side of the leaves. The flowers are gene- 

 rally more numerous (from 4 to 8), and the cyme is often branched 

 in a corymbose manner. The only invariable distinction is in 

 the fruit, which is rounder and destitute of the polygonal base and 

 the prominent ribs which are so conspicuous in T. grandifolia. 



Common Lime. 



French, Tilleul Officinal. German, Raster bliiltrige Linde. 



The Lime or Linden tree is not generally recognized as indigenous ; but it is found 

 in woods throughout our island, and there is great reason to suppose that it has long 

 been an inhabitant of Great Britain. Few of us but are well acquainted with its elegant 

 form and beautiful bright green foliage in the early summer, when it is seen to most 

 advantage, especially in dry seasons, during which it is liable to the attacks of aphides, 

 which cover its leaves with a viscous substance known by the name of honey-dew, and 

 exist in colonies on the branches, looking like dark sooty masses. Since the early 

 fashion of gardening and planting in formal rows has disappeared, the Lime is not so 

 generally introduced into plantations as it used to be ; still, we must all be able to 

 recall the sweet scent of the Lime flowers as an early recollection, and it is now con- 

 stantly seen in avenues and park plantations. It has, too, the merit of enduring the 

 smoke of towns better than mo.st trees, and, with the exception of the jjlane-tree, there 

 is perhaps none that does better under these disadvantageous conditions. On the 

 Continent it is often planted along the highways and the streets of towns, especially in 

 Germany and Holland, where it sometimes attains an enormous size. The Dutch plant 

 the Lime along their widest streets and by the side of their canals, and the whole 

 country is perfumed by the flowers during the months of July and August. The 

 praises of the Lime tree have been sung by ancient and modern poets, and descriptions 

 of it are given in glowing language by many well-known writers. Fenelon, in his 

 " Telemuchus," decorates with "flowery Lime trees" his enchanted Isle of Calyjiso. 

 Theophrastus and Pliny make mention of it ; and Gerarde says : " The Lime or Linden 

 tree waxeth very greate and thicke, spreading foorth his branches wide and far abroad, 

 being a tree which yieldeth a most jileasaut shadow, under and within whose boughes 

 may be made brave somnier houses and banketting arbors." Evelyn describes this 

 favourite tree in the most animated manner. " Is there," says he, " a more ravishing 

 or delightful object than to behold some entire streets and whole towns planted with 

 these trees in even lines before their doors, so as they even seem like cities in a wood?" 



" The stately Lime, smooth, gentle, straight, and fair, 

 With which no other Dryad can compare. 

 With verdant locks and fragrant blossoms deckt. 

 Does a large, even, odorate shade project." 



Of celebrated and remarkable Lime trees we have many mentioned. Perhaps the 

 most noticeable was that which grew on the native farm of the great natui-alist Linnagus, 

 and from which it is said that his ancestors derived their family name Linn, being 

 Swedish for a Lime tree. The great Lime at Neustadt, in Evelyn's time, had a trunk 

 measuring twenty-seven feet in circumference, and the town is still called Neustadt-an- 

 der-Linden. At Moorpark, in Hertfordshire, there is a celebrated Lime tree seven- 

 teen feet round and one hundred feet high. The celebrated Lime of Cleves was also of 

 great magniticeuce. In the middle of the tree was cut a room of considerable dimen- 

 sions, while the external parts were most curiously trimmed and tortured in the highest 



