Tilia tree = Linden, Lime or Basswood Tree

by Stanka Vukelić

The tilia tree

Edible wild plants – our superfood.

The young leaves of a linden tree make an excellent salad!

Yes, also I thought – to mix leaves into a salad – as somewhat strange, however, I’ve tried it and………..yummy! Unbelievably good. In addition to the recipe for the linden leaf salad, I’m introducing to you the magic tree on which those leaves grow.

Description:

The tilia tree is a giant, reaching from 66 to 130 ft (20-40 meters) in height. It is native throughout most of the northern hemisphere from eastern North America, over Europe, to Asia. It is known for its flowers’ mesmerising smell, huge trunks and crowns, and for the exceptional ages that it reaches. The ages are meisured in centuries in which some specimens are known to be 1000 and more years old.

Utilization:

The Linden (or tilia tree) is incredibly versatile. In medicine, leaves, flowers, seeds, and wood are being used. From Wikipedia:

“Flowers – herbalism for colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headache (particularly migraine), and as a diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the digestive tract), and sedative. New evidence shows that the flowers may be hepatoprotective. The wood is used for liver and gallbladder disorders and cellulitis (inflammation of the skin and surrounding soft tissue). That wood burned to charcoal is ingested to treat intestinal disorders and used topically to treat edema or infection such as cellulitis or ulcers of the lower leg. Usually, the double-flowered species are used to make perfumes.”

The soft wood was once (and still is) used for making amulets, inexpensive furniture, and wood-carving. The inner bark is very tough and fibrous, historically used for making ropes. Today it is frequently used for the production of solid body electric guitars.

Methods:

For medicine and tee, opened flowers are picked in june before they get old and change color; dried in the shadow in an airy place. During the process od drying, flowers shall keep their original color and pleasant smell.

For salads, leaves are collected in april, may, and june. Best used, are young leaves of bright green color. In Europe, the leaves were used – in addition to salads – also for backing bread and pastry. Dried Linden leaves were grinded and mixed with wheat flour.

In France, in the 18th century, fruits of the tree were used for making chocolate, soon after it was abandoned because of fast decay.

Conclusion

The tilia tree was once an important part of social life. Particulary germanic and slavic people kept it in their tradition. In the pre-christian central europian world it had a great spiritual significance as the mystical tree of life, the tree of health, the tree of justice, the tree of victory, the tree of fertility, and the tree for dancing and socializing. It can be traced back that slavic tribes once lived in linden forests and were deeply connected to the trees.

Oh, I can quite imagine those magical tree giants, united in forests. Me, in a glade during flowering time, immersed into the honey scent they disperse. Incredible aromatherapy. On the side, the meditative humming of numerous bees, collecting honey, and beautiful butterflies. …..sipping a deliscious tea sweetened with linden honey. And protected from evil forces by an amulet of linden wood………Heaven on earth!

I hope it has caught you like it has me………..

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