Linden (Tilia)

Linden (Tilia)


Description
Lime tree is a tree up to 25 m high with a dense crown. Long-petiolate leaves are round, pointed at tip and and on the bottom face protruding ribs can be seen. The flowers, 2-10 in number, sometimes more, are yellowish-white in color, fragrant, arranged on a common stem, connated at nearly half its length, with a long, tongue-shaped bract, green-yellow in color. Each flower consists of 5 sepals which fall when blooming, 5 petals, many stamens and a globular ovary. The fruit is a spherical or oval nut. It blooms in June-July. It is spread through the forests in the hills region near  the mountains.


Harvest
Lime flowers are picked with the accompanying bracts. They are harvested when most of them are fully bloomed and a small number of buds is beginning to bloom. Harvesting is done during dry weather, after the dew has lifted and 2-3 days after the most recent rain.


Drying Mode
Lime flowers are dried in thin layers, in airy rooms. They can be dried artificially at a temperature of 35 degrees C. From 3.5 to 4 kg of fresh flowers you can obtain 1 kg of dry product.


Uses
Lime flowers are used for cough, cold, they have emollient action and as a sudatory agent. Internally: reduces temperature, expectorant, sedative. Externally: general calming agent (in baths), decongestiv.


Observations
When handling lime flowers wear a mask or gauze over your nose and mouth. Lime dust is irritant, causing coughing and sneezing.




Source: www.sanatateverde.blogspot.com