Tilia
About 30
Tilia is the genus of about 30 family of trees or bushes, native throughout nearly of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is required as linden for the European species, & basswood for North American species. In Britain as well as Ireland they are usually called lime trees, although they are non related to the citrus lime. The genus occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but the greatest nature diversity is found in Asia. Under the Cronquist classification system, this genus was placed in the family Tiliaceae, but genetic research summarised by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has resulted in the incorporation of this genus, and of near of the previous family, into the Malvaceae.
Tilia species are mostly large, elms, the exact number of species is uncertain, as numerous of the species can hybridise readily, both in the wild and in cultivation. They are hermaphroditic, having perfect flowers with both male and female parts, pollinated by insects.
Tilia is the only requested ectomycorrhizal genus in the family Malvaceae. Studies of ectomycorrhizal relations of Tilia species indicate a wide range of fungal symbionts and a preference toward Ascomycota fungal partners.