Flora - Indigenous melliferous plants: small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata)

Flora – Indigenous melliferous plants

Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata)

The small-leaved lime is very closely related to the large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), to the extent that in popular usage the two species are sometimes treated as the same tree. The native Slovene names of the two trees, respectively lipovec and lipa, can give the misleading impression that the former is the male plant of the latter species, whereas in fact they are two distinct species. Both are important in apiculture, although the small-leaved lime is more common in the forests of the greater part of Slovenia. Honey derived from the flowers of both species is generally referred to as “lime honey”. Both species have heart-shaped leaves but Tilia cordata has smaller leaves with slightly different venation and more flowers in each cluster. The flowers are also used to make herbal teas. The wood of the small-leaved lime is relatively soft and suitable for carving.

Mitja Kaligarič