''Tilia amurensis'', the Amur lime or Amur linden, is a species of ''

Tilia ''Tilia'' is a genus of about 30 species of trees or bushes, native throughout most of the temperateness, temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is known as linden for the European species, and basswood for North American species. In Britain a ...

'' native to eastern Asia. It differs from the better-known ''

Tilia cordata ''Tilia cordata'', the small-leaved lime or small-leaved linden, is a species of tree in the family Malvaceae, native to much of Europe. Other common names include little-leaf or littleleaf linden, or traditionally in South East England, pry or p ...

'' in having somewhat smaller leaves,

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s and

cymes An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed on ...

. It is an important timber tree in Russia, China and Korea, and is occasionally planted as a street tree in cities with colder climates.

Description

''Tilia amurensis'' is a medium sized shade tree which can grow up to tall. The appearance is quite similar to ''

Tilia japonica ''Tilia japonica'', the Japanese lime or Japanese linden, is a species of ''Tilia'' native to eastern China and Japan, preferring to grow in mountains up to 2000m. It superficially resembles the better-known '' Tilia cordata'', the small-leaved l ...

'' besides the difference in size of leaves, bracts and a shorter cyme. ''Tilia amurensis'' is a hermaphrodite which means it contains both female and male organs and is mainly pollinated by insects.

Habitat

''T. amurensis'' prefer a medium moisture level as well as fertile well drained loams. It has the ability to adapt to several different ranges of soil conditions as well as a good tolerance for urban conditions . Often found in mixed forests region of China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and north-east Siberia.

Life cycle

The leaves of the tree tend to begin to emerge around late spring to early June. In areas with clement winters the tree is known for being badly frosting after emerging early. its life span can span up to 50 years with many going on to live much longer in situations where they are maintained well and barring any diseases and issues that could come about.

Development

''Tilia amurensis'' can grow up to 32 meters tall with a dark bark color. It has irregular scaled ridges which are shown as it matures. The twigs could be measured (1.3 - 2.6 mm thick). Primarily they start with tangled stellate indumentum which becomes glabrous as they mature. The buds are smooth,with 2 exposed scales. the leaves tend to measure between 4-8 x 4-7 cm orbicular alongside a long skinny tip with a cordata base. The lower base of the leaves are pale green with a loose stellate indumentum and strong tufts with red hair under the vein axils. The teeth with mucronate tips can grow up to 1.2 mm long. with the floral bracts growing to 4-10 cm x 0.5-1.5 cm. The leaves are rather droopy with 10-30 flowers on each pedicel.

Medicine

Tea can be made from the leaves which has an antispasmodic, diaphoretic and sedative effect.

Food

''Tilia amurensis'' is not particularly used as a supplement for food. The leaves are edible but it is known as a famine food, which is a source of food only when all else fails. The leaves could also be used to make Tea. It is also known as a substitute for chocolate which made from a paste of the ground fruits and flowers. It has not become a popular product due to the paste decomposing very easily and rapidly.

References

http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Tilia+amurensis https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287373&isprofile=0& https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tilia+amurensis {{Taxonbar, from=Q2978582 amurensis Flora of the Russian Far East Trees of China Trees of Korea Plants described in 1869