Eminescu's Linden Tree

Eminescu's Linden Tree, June 2014.

Eminescu's Linden Tree (Romanian: Teiul lui Eminescu) is a 500-year-old silver lime (Tilia tomentosa Moench) in the Copou Public Garden, Iași, Romania.

Mihai Eminescu reportedly wrote some of his best works underneath this lime, rendering the tree one of Romania's most important natural monuments and a Iași landmark.[1]

Age

According to the Iasi Environmental Protection Agency's official data, the tree is approximately 458 years old.[2] A more recent survey, conducted by a forest engineer[3] using an increment borer, placed the tree at 540 years of age (+- 3%).[4]

Current Status

Eminescu's Linden Tree (close-up, June 2014)

In June 2014, the 'Iașul iubește teii' ('Iasi Loves Its Linden Trees') civic group, alongside the 'www.impotriva.blogspot.co.uk' academic group, 'Asociația Peisagiștilor din România' (ASOP) and 'Centrul de Resurse pentru Participare Publica' (Bucharest), with technical support from the 'Asociatia Dendro-Ornamentala "Anastasie Fătu" Iași', warned the City Hall over the tree's near critical condition, and asked for a number of emergency dendrological measures to be taken.[5] Later the same month, the City Hall complied with the request and, under the supervision of ing. dr. Ionel Lupu (President, Asociatia Dendro-Ornamentala "Anastasie Fatu Iasi") proceeded to treating the lime with Bordeaux mixture, insect repelent and organic soil enrichments.[6]

One day after the treatment, joined by local intellectuals and members of the public, ing. dr. Ionel Lupu, Professor Mandache Leocov and Professor Liviu Antonesei gathered near the tree and argued for the replanting of limes in the Iasi city centre, while accusing the City Hall of gross incompetence in managing the city's green spaces.[7] Later, in August 2015, the Iaşi City Hall launched a public referendum on the topic of replanting limes in the city centre.[8][9]

Civic symbol

Eminescu's Linden Tree, December 2012.

Eminescu's Linden Tree was used as a civic symbol by the students who protested, in February 2013, against the removal (by felling) of the linden tree alignment in the Iaşi city centre, and its replacement by the local municipality with miniature Japanese shrubs.[10][11]

Notes

  1. Pettersen, L. & Baker, M. . Romania. Lonely Planet Travel Guide. p. 262.
  2. Adevarul, 26 aprilie 2014 - Teiul lui Eminescu, datat cu precizie.
  3. Ionel Lupu. Bucuria naturii, o munca de 45 de ani. Ziarul Evenimentul, 29.06.2002.
  4. Informare privitoare la starea fito-sanitară a Teiului lui Eminescu și a tratamentului aplicat la data de 14.06.2014, Asociatia Dendro-Ornamentală "Anastasie Fătu" Iași
  5. Adevarul, 9 iunie 2014 - Teiul lui Eminescu, în pericol de moarte. Arborele-simbol al Iașiului are nevoie urgentă de tratament, iar specialiștii îi dau ultimatum primarului Nichita
  6. Informare privitoare la starea fito-sanitară a Teiului lui Eminescu și a tratamentului aplicat la data de 14.06.2014, Asociatia Dendro-Ornamentală "Anastasie Fătu" Iași. Comunicat de presă.
  7. Lecție de botanică pentru măcelarii teilor din Iași: „Este colosal de mult să tai 800 de copaci într-un an. Ăsta e un masacru". Prof. dr. Mandache Leucov, pentru Adevarul, 25 noiembrie 2013.
  8. "IMAGINI: Ieșeni, dacă vreți REPLANTAREA TEILOR, mergeți la centrele de cartier!", Ziarul de Iași, 14 August 2015, retrieved 26 August 2015
  9. "AUDIO: Victorie unică în istoria Iaşului: Teii revin pe bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare", Ziarul de Iaşi, 21 August 2015, retrieved 30 August 2015
  10. "The Iaşi Linden Tree Fellings. Timeline. (With thanks to all the volunteers.)", https://www.academia.edu/8966611/the_ia%c5%9fi_linden_tree_fellings._timeline._with_thanks_to_all_the_volunteers._, retrieved 30 November 2014 External link in |newspaper= (help)
  11. Andreea Unturica -Mediafax, Florin Gheţău (11 May 2014), ""Iaşiul iubeşte teii!" Locuitorii au ieşit în stradă pentru a protesta faţă de plantarea salcâmilor japonezi", Gândul, retrieved 30 November 2014

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