Lime trees

[Rainbowmum]

Forgive me as I am learning here. In the UK we get Lime trees.... well in countries where limes grow on trees are these also lime trees????? Different latin name I assume?
Thank you!

[aeshna5]

Yes same common name for 2 totally unrelated groups of plants-that's where the scientific name comes in - the culinary fruit is Citrus aurantifolia; whereas the native + ornamental limes we see in our streets, parks + woods are Tilia species.

[RobSutton]

I always thought the similarity in colour between lime leaves and lime fruit led to the one name being applied to the other.

Incidentally I came across a reference to lime fruits (our tree not the citrus fruit) being used as a chocolate substitute. Has anyone tried them?

[Dutchess]

Hi there Rainbow Mum,

Uncanny that you should ask that as I was thinking exactly the same thing a few days ago, and yet I'd never even pondered the issue before .....

This time last week, we were staying at a French gite and in the garden, there was a large lime tree (the type like our own) which was great for shielding the south facing side of the gite from the intense sun (huh, and what a difference that was to the weather here! )....but I digress...However, the gite owner had situated the table and chairs right underneath it and the furniture was crawling with ants. I believe lime trees drip a sort of sticky nectar which is attractive to ants and other insects, but plays havoc with people's cars in lime tree-lined avenues?!

D.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

I always thought the similarity in colour between lime leaves and lime fruit led to the one name being applied to the other.

Lime - Citrus aurantifolia. Name derived from 17thC French from Arabic "limah"

Lime - Tilia europaea. Name derived from Old English name "linden" via shortened "line"

So the although the modern words for both speacies of tree are identical their etymology is wholly distinct. I do wonder though whether the change from "line" to "lime" for T.europaea was influenced by the alternate meaning of 'lime' as in quicklime and limewash where the origin is the English "lim" meaning glue - perhaps a reference to the sticky deposits of honeydew which come from the aphids that infest T.europaea.

CM

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

>>>>>I do wonder though whether the change from "line" to "lime" for T.europaea was influenced by the alternate meaning of 'lime' as in quicklime and limewash where the origin is the English "lim" meaning glue - perhaps a reference to the sticky deposits of honeydew which come from the aphids that infest T.europaea.<<<<<

CM

Ah! So they're the culprits! That figures Seems a logical explanation to me.

Cheers,

D.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

Lime - Citrus aurantifolia. Name derived from 17thC French from Arabic "limah"

Lime - Tilia europaea. Name derived from Old English name "linden" via shortened "line"

So the although the modern words for both speacies of tree are identical their etymology is wholly distinct. I do wonder though whether the change from "line" to "lime" for T.europaea was influenced by the alternate meaning of 'lime' as in quicklime and limewash where the origin is the English "lim" meaning glue - perhaps a reference to the sticky deposits of honeydew which come from the aphids that infest T.europaea.

CM

Thanks for that CM - I like the link from line to lime via honeydew and limewash.

[Rainbowmum]

Oooh thanks so much for your replies. I love this forum because I have questions like that that pop into my head all the time and I know it will not seem weird or geeky posting it here I am at home lol!

Is it the lime tree that exudes the sticky stuff... or the ants?

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Rainbowmum

Is it the lime tree that exudes the sticky stuff... or the ants?

The sticky stuff (honeydew) comes from the aphids, who suck it, as sap, out of the Lime tree leaves. The ants are attracted to anything sweet so may suck up the honeydew where it has dripped. They also take it direct from the aphids.

henrya