Lime

Just a few

Small leaved Limes'

Lime Trees are one of our more quirky native deciduous trees. Able to flower, but not to produce seeds, due presumably to some past climatic changes. In UK this plant relies mainly on vegetative reproduction; from suckers at the base of the tree, and if a tree falls down, it can root in all the way along and form a line of trees.

This picture isn't terribly clear. It looks a bit like a Hazel, at first glance, but it isn't. It' a Lime.

This one and a hand full of others, were planted on years 2-3, experimentally, got from suckers from big trees in parks in Plymouth and Tavistock. I didn't realise that they actually had taken until about year 6 or 7, when I noticed a few poking up through the brambles, and then in year 8 I found a nursery, which sold Small Leafed Limes from Eastern Europe, which apparently 'can' produce seeds and I planted those in B-woods.

Around Dartmoor there are a few Limes, which have been planted and which are quite big. They certainly seem to like it here.

With their very thick tangled branches, they make a unique high up thicket habitat for all sorts of creatures.

Limes also have very beautifully scented flowers in the early Summer. They are one of our tallest and one of our densest trees. I added a few more little Eastern European Limes to Toe woods last season, just a few more. They seem to be pretty tough; recovering from being eaten pretty quickly and they are very able to cope with canopy and heavy competition.