common lime or common linden

The lime connects

Common lime is a widely cultivated, and much planted, species in the Netherlands. It is a cross between the large-leafed lime and the small-leafed lime although it is unknown when this cross actually happened.

A characteristic of all lime trees is the fusion of the long peduncle (flower stalk) with a bract so that the small flowers either stand or hang in a cluster beneath this bract.

Burrs (deformed growth) can often be seen on the trunk and lower branches of mature common lime trees out of which new growth appears as jumble of twigs. Moreover suckers forming at the base of the trunk also characterize the common lime. 
The lime, a tall, erect tree with a rich crown has all the properties necessary to become truly monumental.

Humans and lime trees are strongly linked. The common lime has often been attributed the role of patron of the village. Lime has many positive attributes that people have exploited over the centuries: foliage for feeding livestock, in surgery, in beekeeping and as a supplier of fibre, wood and charcoal.

Lime blossom tea is very tasty and helps with fever and colds.