TILIACE^. 123 



organs in T. europcBa ; slightly hairy on the upper surface^ and 

 finely and softly downy on the under side. Flowers usually but 

 3 ; in the other species or states the flowers are more numerous. 

 Fruit large, densely hairy, with 5-6 prominent angles, and as 

 many hard, Avoody valves. 



Plantations. Kent, Essex, Perthshire. Tree; flowers in June 

 and July ; fruit in August. 



In the Arboretum and Fruticetum Britannicum, the most ela- 

 borate work which we have on trees, these three species or forms 

 or states are combined under the name Tilia europ(sa, the Euro- 

 pean or common Lime-tree. The learned author is of opinion 

 that all the known Lime-trees may be included under two species, 

 T. eiiropcea and 2\ americana. His view of our English or Euro- 

 pean Limes is as follows : — 



T. europaea, Lin. — " Leaves cordate, acuminated, serrated, 

 smooth, except a tuft of hair at the origin of the veins (nerves 

 or ribs) beneath, twice the length of the petioles. Cymes many- 

 flowered. Petals without scales. Fruit coriaceous, downy .^' The 

 following, which rank as species according to De Candolle and 

 other systematic botanists, Mr. Loudon terms races or varieties ; 

 viz. : — 



T. microphylla [T.parvifolia, Ehrh.) . — '^ Leaves cordate, round- 

 ish, acuminated, sharply serrated, smooth above, glaucous and 

 bearded beneath on the axils of the veins, as well as in hairy 

 blotches. Petals without scales. Fniit rather globose, hardly 

 ribbed, very thin and brittle.^^ 



T. platypMjlla [T. grandifolia, Ehrh.). — "Leaves shaped as in 

 T. vnicrophylla, but larger, and downy beneath ; axils of the veins 

 AvooUy. Cymes 3-flowered, Petals Avithout scales. Fruit Avoody, 

 downy, turbinate (pear- or top-shaped), Avith 5 prominent angles .^^ 

 " This tree,^' it is added, " is about the same size as T. europoca, 

 from which it is readily distinguished by its larger and rougher 

 leaves, also by its rougher bark, and hispid branches." In the 

 work above quoted there are, in all, 8 varieties of this tree named 

 and described. In T. americana the leaves are stated to be more 

 obliquely cordate than in T. europcea and its forms. The petals 

 also have a scale at the base, Avhich is not the case in the Euro- 

 pean species or states. In England, T. americana does not floAver 

 till the flowers of our common forms are decaying. In winter 

 this species is recognized by the dark brown colour of the bark 



