Berlin's Famous Avenue Is Named After the Linden Tree
A linden is a lime tree. The name has nothing to do with the citrus fruit, and Unter den Linden means under the lindens.
A linden is a tree of the genus *Tilia*, called a *lime* in British English. That British name is a trap: it has no connection to the citrus fruit, and comes from an older form *lind* by way of *line*. Berlin's boulevard Unter den Linden means under the linden trees, and linden flowers make a widely drunk herbal tea.
- A tree of the genus Tilia. *An avenue of lindens.*
- Lime — the British name. *A lime tree.*
- Linden tea — an infusion of the flowers. *A cup of linden tea.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | linden | A mature linden. |
| Plural | lindens | Rows of lindens. |
| British | lime | A lime avenue. |
| Genus | Tilia | The genus Tilia. |
| Related | basswood | American basswood. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Unter den Linden runs through Berlin.Under the lindens.
- The lime tree is not a citrus.A different word entirely.
- Basswood is the American name.From the bast fibre in its bark.
Linden facts
- Tilia — the botanical genus
- Bast — the strong inner bark fibre, used for rope and matting
- Nectar — linden honey is highly prized
- Sticky pavements — caused by aphid honeydew from the leaves
- Long-lived — some European lindens are many centuries old
From Old English *lind*, the tree, with an adjectival ending. The citrus *lime* came separately from Arabic through Spanish.
Is a lime tree a citrus?
The British lime tree is not. It is a linden, and the name comes from an older English word, unconnected to the fruit.
Why do lime trees make cars sticky?
Aphids feeding on the leaves excrete honeydew, which drips onto whatever is beneath.