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Name: Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ Little Leaf Linden or Basswood
Campus Location: Outside of the Atrium in front of the Student Services Building
Shaped like a Hershey’s kiss the ‘Greenspire’ Linden produces fragrant cream colored flowers in June. The plant prefers moist, well drained soil and is quite pollution tolerant, probably one of the best street and city trees. The straight trunk and rich foliage make it is an excellent shade tree for lawn, street, planter, or mall. The trees located in the Atrium entrance mall provide great shade for students, staff, and faculty to relax. Flowers from Tilia cordata were traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory for cold, flu, sore throat, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. The flowers were added to baths to quell hysteria, and steeped as a tea to relieve anxiety-related indigestion, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting. Active ingredients in the linden flowers include flavonoids which act as antioxidants and mucilage components which are soothing and reduce inflammation. Linden trees are also valued for their wood and charcoal, and for the exceptional, flavorful light colored honey made from their flowers.
Updated: March 2, 2012 1:40 PM
