Eminescu's Linden Tree ( ro, Teiul lui Eminescu) is a 500-year-old

silver lime ''Tilia tomentosa'', known as silver linden in the US and silver lime in the UK, is a species of flowering plant in the family (biology), family Malvaceae, native plant, native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, from Romania and the Ba ...

(''Tilia tomentosa Moench'') in

Copou Park The Copou Park or Copou Gardens is the oldest public park in Iaşi, Romania. Its development started in 1834 under the reign of Mihail Sturdza, making the park one of the first public gardens in Romania and a Iaşi landmark. In its centre lies ...

Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the second largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, it has traditionally ...

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

Mihai Eminescu Mihai Eminescu (; born Mihail Eminovici; 15 January 1850 – 15 June 1889) was a Romanian Romantic poet from Moldavia, novelist, and journalist, generally regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet. Eminescu was an active membe ...

reportedly wrote some of his best works underneath this lime, rendering the tree one of Romania's most important natural monuments and a Iași landmark.

Age

According to the Iasi Environmental Protection Agency's official data, the tree is approximately 458 years old. A more recent survey conducted using an

increment borer An increment borer is a specialized tool used to extract a section of wood tissue from a living tree with relatively minor injury to the plant itself. The tool consists of a handle, an auger bit and a small, half circular metal tray ( the core ...

, placed the tree at 540 years of age (+- 3%).

Civic symbol

The tree was used as a civic symbol by the students who protested, in February 2013, against the removal (by felling) of the linden tree alignment in the Iaşi city centre, and its replacement by the local municipality with miniature Japanese shrubs. In November 2015, the decision was reversed following a public referendum on the topic, which resulted in the reinstatement of limes in the city centre. Jurnalul regional TVR Iași. 'Avem tei argintii'. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSvtDH9KmNo, Retrieved 18 May 2016

Current status

In June 2014, Asociatia Dendro-Ornamentala "Anastasie Fatu Iasi", backed by the Iaşi Academic Group and the 'Iașul Iubește Teii' ('Iasi Loves Its Linden Trees') civic campaign, with support from 'Asociația Peisagiștilor din România' (ASOP) and 'Centrul de resurse pentru participare publica' (The Resource Center for Public Participation) (CeRe) (Bucharest), warned the City Hall over the tree's near critical condition, and asked for a number of emergency dendrological measures to be taken. Later the same month, the City Hall complied with the request and, under the supervision of ing. dr. Ionel Lupu (President, Asociatia Dendro-Ornamentala "Anastasie Fatu Iasi") proceeded to treating the lime with

Bordeaux mixture Bordeaux mixture (also called ''Bordo Mix'') is a mixture of copper(II) sulphate (CuSO4) and quicklime ( Ca O) used as a fungicide. It is used in vineyards, fruit-farms and gardens to prevent infestations of downy mildew, powdery mildew and other ...

, insect repellent and organic soil enrichments. One day after the treatment, joined by local intellectuals and members of the public, ing. dr. Ionel Lupu, Professor Mandache Leocov and Professor Liviu Antonesei gathered near the tree and argued for the replanting of limes in the Iasi city centre, while accusing the City Hall of gross incompetence in managing the city's green spaces.Lecție de botanică pentru măcelarii teilor din Iași: „Este colosal de mult să tai 800 de copaci într-un an. Ăsta e un masacru". Prof. dr. Mandache Leucov, pentru Adevarul, 25 noiembrie 2013.
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Gallery

File:Teiul lui Eminescu (detaliu).jpg, File:Teiul lui Eminescu (suporturi metalice) (8).jpg , File:Teiul lui Eminescu (detaliu frunze) (2).jpg , File:Teiul lui Eminescu (suporturi metalice) (4).jpg File:Teiul lui Eminescu (suporturi metalice) (5).jpg File:Teiul lui Eminescu (suporturi metalice) (1).jpg File:Tratament Tei Eminescu Iasi 2.jpg, File:Teiul lui Eminescu (panoramă dinspre sud).jpg, File:Parcul Copou (Bustul şi Teiul lui Eminescu privite dinspre mozaic).jpg

Notes

External links

Iasi - the county of centuries-old trees
{{Coord, 47, 10, 42.2, N, 27, 34, 0.2, E, display=title Tourist attractions in Iași Individual trees in Romania Individual lime trees Mihai Eminescu