TILIACE^E. 



variety known as the T. E. platypliylla (T. grandifolia of 

 Smith) is said to prevail in Switzerland, and as far south 

 as Spain, Portugal, and Greece, whilst the other two, 

 known as the T. Europ&a, and T. E. microphytta, are 

 spread over the northern parts of German) 7 , Denmark, 

 Sweden, Russia, and as far as Siberia. By many bota- 

 nists several species of Tilia are enumerated as inhabitants 

 of Europe, and Sir J. E. Smith makes three distinct species 

 of those cultivated and growing in Britain, viz., T. Europaa, 

 T. grandifolia, and T. parvifolia, the two latter answering 

 to the T. platypliylla and T. microphylla of other authors ; 

 we are, however, inclined to adopt the views and follow the 

 opinion of the author of the "Arboretum Britannicum,"" and 

 to consider these not as specifically distinct from T. Europaa, 

 in its usual form, but as marked varieties, or, as Mr. Lou- 

 don designates them, Races, originally produced from the 

 seed of one, and which have been kept distinct, and per- 

 petuated by means of layers, grafting, and other artificial 

 modes of propagation ; a view we think strongly corro- 

 borated by the fact that the seeds of the different kinds, 

 or supposed species, do not always produce plants exactly 

 similar to the trees from which they are gathered, but run 

 into varieties, the seed of T. E. platypliylla often producing 

 plants similar in every respect to those of T. Europaa (the 

 Common Lime), and so with the other kinds. 



The Lime-tree appears to have been held in repute in 

 ancient as well as in modern times, for we learn from 

 Theophrastus that it was known to the Greeks, and Pliny 

 speaks of it as a tree held in high esteem by the Romans, 

 not only for the ornament and shade it afforded, but for 

 the qualities of its wood, and the various purposes to which 

 it was adapted. Nearly two hundred years have elapsed 

 since it became a favourite tree in the formation of avenues 



