COMPLIMENTARY 
NEW SERIES VOL. IX 
NO. 13 
ARNOLD ARBORETUM 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
BULLETIN 
OF 
POPULAR INFORMATION 
JAMAICA PLAIN, MASS. JULY 6. 1923 
Linden-trees. The earliest of these trees are already blooming, and 
now for several weeks their fragrant flowers, frequented by swarms 
of bees, will perfume the air. The studies of Linden-trees at the 
Arboretum have shown that the European species grow more rapidly 
and give every promise of being better trees in this climate than the 
American and Asiatic species. This is unusual, for of other European 
trees only the Beech and White Willow grow better here than their 
American relatives, and except Lindens all eastern Asiatic trees are 
more at home in eastern North America than the trees of Europe. 
The five European species, Tilia platyphyllos, T. cordata, T. vulgaris, 
T. tomentosa, and T. petiolaris, and several varieties of the first are 
growing here in a satisfactory manner. The first of these trees is 
easily distinguished by the hairs which cover the lower surface of the 
yellow-green leaves and the young branches. This tree is the first of 
the European species to flower. It has long been cultivated in the 
eastern states; indeed it appears to be the common European Linden 
sold by American nurserymen, although as an ornamental tree it is the 
least desirable of the European Lindens. Tilia cordata, distinguished by 
its small cordate leaves pale and glaucous on the lower surface, is the 
last of the Lindens to flower. It is a beautiful tree which in Europe 
grows to a large size, but is not very often seen in this country, 
and if there are large specimens here they have escaped the attention 
of the Arboretum. It is an interesting fact that the Linden-tree 
which has been growing in eastern Massachusetts long enough to 
show its value in this climate is generally believed to be a hybrid 
between Tilia platyphyllos and T, cordata, which is variously known as 
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