Tilia platyphyllos Large-leaved Lime

Large-leaved Lime is a tree that is closely associated with limestone and is only native in Wales in woodland along the Welsh borders, e.g the Wye Valley. It is not native anywhere in West Glamorgan although it may have been planted in parks, e.g. Margam Park. Like Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata), its leaves have a heart-shaped (cordate) base but the combination of hairy twigs and leaves and the drooping flowers are characteristic features which will separate it from that species. American Lime (Tilia americana) differs in the oblique and assymetric bases to its leaves. It is often confused with the hybrid lime, Tilia x europaea, which is very commonly planted and whose leaves are more or less hairless on the underside.