Mature Lime trees typically have an upright habit with several vertical main stems. These are some of the dozen specimens along the old railway wall in the grounds of the Thornbury Tesco.
The twigs are typically zig-zag between the rounded buds, which can turn red in sunny locations.
The zig-zag often persists into the young branches. Note the zig-zag twigs in the photo below, top right and bottom left.
Some limes retain last year's fruits attached to the bracts that are meant to assist their distribution. These seem to be waiting for spring.
The lime species most frequently planted in streets and parks is the Common Lime (Tilia x europaea) a natural hybrid between our two native limes the small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) and the broad-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos). They are quite hard to tell apart.
The common lime often carries clumps of mistletoe in its branches. These two are down by St Mary's Church. The one on the left has been distorted by mistletoe and the one on the right has been heavily pruned so their shapes are a bit odd.
One last aid to confirm identification: some limes, especially common limes, have sprouts round the base or even up the trunk.
Sorry these photos are so gloomy but I noticed the trees in the late afternoon.
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