small-leaved lime
Tilia cordata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (34 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Small-leaved lime, scientifically known as Tilia cordata, is a deciduous tree cherished for its fragrant, heart-shaped leaves and delicate blossoms. Historically used in traditional medicine, its flowers yield a soothing herbal tea renowned for its calming properties, effectively easing anxiety, promoting restful sleep, and reducing mild inflammatory symptoms.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Flower
- Common names
- Little-Leaved Linden · Small-Leaved European Linden · 7 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- little-leaved linden
- small-leaved European linden
- small-leaved linden
- Small-Leaved Lime
- linden
- littleleaf linden
- small-leaf European linden
- small-leaf lime
- small-leaf linden
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Tilo norteño
German:
- Winterlinde
- Winter-Linde
- Winter-Linde
French:
- tilleul à petites feuilles
- Tilleul a petites feuilles
- tilleul à peties feuilles
- tilleul d'Europe
- tilleul à feuilles en coeur
- tilleul à petites feuilles
- tilleul des bois
- Tilleul a petites feuilles
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Tilia cordataTaxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales, falling into the family Malvaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Tilia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tilia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. In the southern part of this territory, it can be found growing in Denmark. Its range extends further north into the landscapes of Norway and Sweden. Additionally, the species is present throughout the vast forests of Finland. Finally, the geographical reach of this medicinal plant includes the islands of Great Britain.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the small-leaved lime, is primarily valued for its fragrant flowers and the specialized structures surrounding them. The individual flower is a small, yellowish, and nectar-rich component of the inflorescence, which serves to attract pollinators during the summer months. These flowers are nestled within a distinctive, leaf-like pale green bract, which is often referred to as part of the flower cluster in medicinal preparations. When harvested, both the flowers and their accompanying bracts are dried to create infusions used for their calming and soothing properties.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| flower | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tilia cordata has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CU, FE, (epi)afzelechin, (epi)catechin, Astragalin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CU | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| FE | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (epi)afzelechin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (epi)catechin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astragalin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CA | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CATECHIN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Coumarins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Esculin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fraxin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CU
- Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny
- Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
FE
- Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny
- Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
(epi)afzelechin
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
(epi)catechin
- Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
Astragalin
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
CA
- Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny
CATECHIN
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Coumarins
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
Esculin
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
Fraxin
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
Activities
Tilia cordata has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihemolytic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antihemolytic | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tilia cordata has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, HHV-1, diabetes mellitus.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HHV-1 | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| herb infusions | Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| herbal infusions | Mutation research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicinal teas | Revista medico-chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| water extracts | Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |