1676 The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



leaves — some specimens, distinguished by V. Engler, as var. typica, having 

 suborbicular leaves, usually cordate at the base ; whilst others, var. petiolaris^ 

 V. Engler, have leaves usually broader than long, and more or less truncate or 

 subcordate at the base. These are connected by numerous intermediate forms, and 

 can scarcely be maintained as distinct varieties. 



All the wild specimens which I have seen, are characterised by leaves, thin in 

 texture, usually pale green above, greyish and not snowy-white beneath, and with 

 slender petioles. Trees similar to the wild form are occasionally seen in cultivation ; 

 but the tree which is more commonly cultivated under the name T. argentea, and 

 which possibly was the one described by Moench as T. tomentosa, and in that case 

 technically the typical form of the species, differs considerably in having larger 

 leaves, thick in texture, more or less orbicular, uneven on the surface, dark shining 

 green above, snowy white beneath, margin often lobulate, petioles short and stout. 

 It is convenient to distinguish this cultivated form, the origin of which is unknown 

 to me, as var. argentea. It has always ascending branches, and is possibly a sport. 



This species is a native of south-eastern Europe, and Asia Minor ; but does not 

 extend as far eastward as the Caucasus. Its northern limit is southern Hungary, 

 where it is found in some parts of Banat, Slavonia, and Croatia. It is widely 

 distributed throughout the Balkan peninsula, extending southwards as far as Laconia 

 in Greece ; and spreads eastward through Roumania and Moldavia to Bessarabia, 

 Podolia, and the Crimea. In Asia Minor, it is limited to Bithynia and the island of 

 Chios. It is usually a component of mixed deciduous woods, growing in valleys and 

 mountain slopes at a low elevation, but occasionally forms pure woods of small 

 extent. (A. H.) 



Cultivation 



The white lime was introduced into England in 1767, and has been planted as 

 an ornamental tree at many places ; but I know no avenues of it in England, 



This species should be multiplied either by seed, which here only ripens in hot 

 seasons such as 19 11, or by layering, as when grafted, as is often done, on the com- 

 mon lime, the scions grow thicker than the stock and produce an unsightly swelling 

 at the point of junction. As an ornamental tree, and for use in towns, it is much 

 superior to the common lime, on account of the freedom of the leaves from honey dew. 



The only place where I have seen the silver lime growing wild in Europe is in 

 the forests of Bosnia, near Maglai in the valley of the Bosna, at about 1000 ft. 

 elevation. Here it was scattered in forests of oak, and other deciduous trees, and was 

 so conspicuous when the silvery white undersides of the leaves were upturned by the 

 wind, that at a distance of a mile or so I at first supposed it to be a tree covered 

 with white flowers.^ Probably some such experience must have induced a former 

 owner of Highclere to plant it largely in that beautiful park, where, as Loudon 



> To be carefully distinguished from T. petiolaris. Hooker (see p. 1677). 



2 In sunny weather, the leaves on the sunny side, especially at the ends of the branchlets, are reversed, turning their vphite 

 sides to the light. This is a provision against excessive transpiration of water ; and has been observed in the other silver 

 limes and in Quenus conferta. See Kemer's remarks in his Nat. Hist. Plants, Eng. Trans, i. 338 (189S). A. H. 



