You can determine the type of linden tree by its leaves, flowers and fruits. As with all linden trees, small nut fruits form from the flower of the winter linden tree, which are spherical in shape and have seeds inside.
What does the fruit of the winter linden tree look like?
The fruit of the winter linden tree is a small, spherical nut (5-7 mm long) that contains one or two seeds. It is initially light green and slightly hairy, later brown and bald. The fruits are connected with a wing leaf and ripen in September.
The appearance of the fruit
- Nut fruit 5-7 mm long,
- contains one to two seeds,
- spherical, not ribbed,
- Shell initially slightly hairy, later glabrous, thin and easily crushable,
- light green, brown in winter,
- Fruit cluster connected to a wing blade.
Not all flowers become fruit
The winter linden trees only bloom between June and July, making them one of the few native deciduous trees whose flowering begins after the leaves have completely formed. The intense scent that the flowers exude attracts the insects that do the pollination. The winter linden trees are happy to bloom, but the amount of fruit varies from year to year. Some of the fruits contain no seeds. Cold weather or the advancing age of the tree also contribute to the fact that the proportion of seedless fruits is quite high.
Propagation by seeds
The winter linden tree's pronounced ability to grow roots and shoots makes a decisive contribution to the rejuvenation of its naturally occurring tree population. Despite extensive flowering, generative propagation (through seeds) is rare for winter linden trees. The seeds are dispersed by the wind, with the rotating blade increasing the flight distance and decreasing the rate of descent. Fruit ripens in September. The fruits that are still green are capable of germinating, as are the fruits that remained on the plant in winter. The waterproof layer surrounding the seed delays germination.
Tip
The linden trees reproduce strongly vegetatively through cane and root growth. For this reason and because of its low location requirements, the winter linden tree is valued by foresters as a pioneer plant. It grows in almost any soil and can hold its own against other trees thanks to its power.