Tilia tomentosa, Moench

1. T. tomentosa Moench , Verz. Ausl. Bäume Weissenst. 136 (1785)

{ T. argentea DC. ).

Up to 30 m, broadly pyramidal. Young twigs tomentose. Leaves 8-10 cm, suborbicular-cordate, serrate, biserrate or slightly lobed, dark green and glabrescent above, white-tomentose with stellate hairs beneath; petiole usually less than half as long as lamina. Bract lanceolate to oblong, subsessile. Flowers dull white, in pendent cymes of 6-10. Staminodes present. Fruit 6-8 mm, usually ovoid, minutely verrucose. Balkan peninsula, extending northwards to N. Hungary and W. Ukraine; often planted elsewhere for ornament. Al Bu Gr Hu Ju Rm Rs (W) Tu.

Variable, especially in habit (ascending or somewhat pendent branches) and in length of petiole. An extreme variant, perhaps best treated as a cultivar, with conspicuously pendent branches, long and slender petioles, spathulate bracts and a depressed-globose fruit (nearly always sterile), is frequently planted for ornament, usually under the name of T. petiolaris auct.,? an DC.