Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata · Malvaceae (Mallow family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Cordate (heart-shaped) with an asymmetrical base and an abruptly pointed tip
Margin
Serrate (finely toothed with sharp, small teeth along the edge)
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig, featuring a slender petiole
Venation
Palmate venation radiating outward from the base, transitioning into a prominent pinnate network
Key Features
Distinctively heart-shaped asymmetrical leaves with finely toothed margins, smooth upper surfaces, and characteristic brownish hair tufts on the lower vein axils
Description
Tilia cordata is a medium to large deciduous tree growing up to 70-80 feet tall with a dense, pyramidal to rounded crown. It produces fragrant yellowish-white flowers in early summer that are highly attractive to bees, followed by small, hard, rounded nutlets attached to a leafy bract.
Habitat
Found primarily in rich, moist, well-draining soils in deciduous forests, commonly planted in urban environments as a street tree due to pollution tolerance
Native Range
Native to Europe and parts of western Asia, widely cultivated and naturalized across North America