Referred to as the linden blossom in North America, the lime blossom is a very powerful, and useful, medicinal flower. The flowers, inner bark, and leaves of the linden tree have been collected and used to treat a variety of illnesses for ages.
The linden tree is a tree belonging to the tiliaceae family, and thrives in the temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere. Though it is native to the eastern part of North America, it isn't typically found is the western half. It is also native to most parts of Europe and Asia.
It can be found in the moist, rich soils of valleys, neighboring other hardwood trees. They grow wild, or because of its reputation as a great shade tree and the fragrant flowers, they are often planted alongside the road or in parks.
Lime Blossom Characteristics
It is a very large deciduous tree and can grow to be anywhere from 70 feet to over 100 feet tall. Large asymmetrical, heart-shaped leaves make up the dense, abundant foliage in the summer months.
The tops of the leaves are a dark green, and the underside is very shiny, or sometimes fuzzy and almost white.
The wood produced by the linden tree is popular with artists of all varieties. Because it is so easy to work with and has very little grain, it is commonly used in carvings.
Because of its better resonance at mid and high frequency, it is a popular material in the making of guitars, both acoustic and electric.
Most well known are the flowers of this tree. Lime blossoms have five yellowish petals, that are extremely fragrant.
In the summer, when the linden tree is in bloom, it is a very popular tree. Bees, perfume makers, and herbalist all have an interest in its flowers. Later on, when the flowers go to seed, small seeds can be found clustered in the leaves. These are about the size and shape of a pea.
How to Use the Parts
The leaves, flowers, and inner bark of the linden tree are all used for a number of things. For medicinal purposes, the leaves and flowers can be dried and used as a tea, used to make a lime blossom tincture, or put in capsule form. Sometimes, the wood is burned, and the charcoal from it is ground up into a fine powder to be used either internally or externally.
History
Linden trees and their blossoms have been used by man for ages and by a number of cultures. For many it is considered a sacred tree and is very important, even today.
It is said that a tree standing in the courtyard of the Imperial Castle at Nuremberg is a linden tree, planted by Empress Cunigude, wife of Emperor Henry II of Germany. Their reign was near the beginning of the 11th century. Though old and sparse, the tree still stands today.
The linden tree is referred to as the lipa to the Slavic people, and was considered a sacred tree. Today, it is still the national emblem for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In 1990, the ‘lipa' was one of the names proposed for the Slovenian currency.
Up until the age of enlightenment, judicial meetings of the Germanic people were held under a linden tree. Verdicts often came back sub tilia, meaning "under linden." It was a common belief that the tree helped unearth the truth in certain matters. Sitting under the linden tree was believed to cure epilepsy in some cultures.
Uses in Ancient History
The wood and inner bark of the tree was used by the Native American people to build sturdy canoes and weave baskets, and fabrics.
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