Is this a birch tree leaf ?

iplogger1 · 11-08-2006 05:33PM #1

We are setting down trees in a few weeks time. We have a bunch
of native trees which are potted and we've been watering them
during the hot spell.

In the meantime I keep a keen eye out for the various native
tree varieties you see around the country.
My eye is getting better at classifying them. The attached
photo is a leaf of a deciduous/broad leaf tree which I think is
a birch but I could be very wrong. I don't believe it is a beech
because common beech I've seen have a generally smaller
more symmetric leaf with less toothed edges.

Anyone here who can identify this one ?

Irish Gardener · 11-08-2006 05:49PM

Hello iplogger1.
The leaf is from a lime tree. (Latin Tillia)
It is not native, but is naturalised in some parts of Ireland.

Alun · 11-08-2006 05:52PM

Looks like a lime tree to me. Birch leaves are much smaller than that, and beech leaves have a shinier surface and don't have the serrated edges.

EDIT: IrishGardener got in there while I was typing! He's right though

iplogger1 · 11-08-2006 06:08PM

IrishGardener, Alun : Thanks very much for the speedy replies and
answer.

I have the Collins Tree Encyclopedia and indeed it does look like
a Lime tree. I saw that the other evening but didn't realise that
Lime trees would be planted much around Ireland so I was trying
to match it to one of the more traditional "native broadleafs".

IrishGardener.. your site/forum looks great. I'm going to
bookmark it and visit often.

Thanks so much

~ipl

Alun · 11-08-2006 06:17PM

Lime trees are quite common in parks and large gardens. For me it's usually the fruit or the yellow flowers that's the giveaway. It's a great wood for carving, too

Is this a birch tree leaf ?

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