Larix_info.html

Larix decidua (European larch): Information.
Identifying characteristics: The European larch grows to 75 feet or more, with a tall, tapering trunk and a pyramidal crown. The horizontal branches produce long, drooping twigs which give the tree an attractive, fine-textured appearance. The leaves are linear, 0.75 to 1.25 inches long and are unstalked. Each leaf is keeled below and flattened above. Leaves are arranged spirally on the twigs, clustered at the ends of spur shoots. Spring growth is bright green, turning a soft, darker green in summer, and finally a brilliant golden color late in the fall. Unlike most conifers, this species is deciduous. In spring, tiny, bright red cones are formed, which turn yellowish-brown at maturity. They are ovoid, 0.75 to 1.25 inches long and are held upright on the twigs, persisting for some years. Cone scales are overlapping and covered with soft, brown down on the back sides. Terminal buds are slightly resinous, globose and short-pointed, with pointed, brown, overlapping scales. Lateral buds are smaller and blunter. Bark of young trees is thin and scaly, becoming separated into grayish-brown plates with deep fissures which expose the reddish-brown inner bark as the tree matures. Similar species: tamarack (L. larcinia) Ecology: Distribution: The European larch is native to the Alps in central Europe from southeast France eastward to Vienna. It is widely planted in Europe and the US and is the only deciduous conifer commonly planted in Iowa. Habitat: Hardy from zone 2 to 6, the European larch prefers moist, well-drained soils or deep, fertile soils overlying limestone or sandstone. It grows well on moderately calcareous soils, but is intolerant of dry, shallow, highly calcareous soils, compaction and drought. Trees require free circulation of air and a sunny position. This larch is relatively free of pests and diseases, although canker may be a serious problem. Woolly larch aphid, larch sawfly, needle rust and larch casebearer sometimes occur. Uses: Wood: At 40 years of age, the European larch may be harvested for commercial timber use. The wood is strong, hard, heavy, coarse-grained and durable. In Europe it is used for poles, posts, vats, mine props, railroad ties, ship-building and construction. It makes good charcoal, but sparks freely and is not a good firewood. The wood is distilled to provide ethyl alcohol. Bark is used in tanning and dyeing, and in diuretic medicines, and larch turpentine is collected by tapping for use in veterinary medicines. Manna of larch, a white, saccharine substance exuded from the summer foliage, was formerly used in medicines. Wildlife: The larch is of minor importance to wildlife. Grouse eat the foliage and buds. The seeds are eaten by red crossbills, and the bark and seeds feed porcupines, squirrels and hares. Horticulture: This larch is an attractive, elegant tree often used as a screen or specimen planting in the US. It grows faster than most other conifers, is windfirm, and is recommended for conservation plantings and landscaping. 'Fastigiata' is a columnar form, with short, ascending branches. 'Pendula' has distinctly drooping branches. The Dunkeld larch (Larix X eurolepis), a cross between the European larch and the Japanese larch, is more resistant to insect or fungal attack. The tamarack or eastern larch (L. larcinia), a native of Canada and northern US, is sometimes planted in Iowa, but it is smaller and less attractive than the European larch and requires acid soil.

Larix decidua (European larch): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
The European larch grows to 75 feet or more, with a tall, tapering trunk and a pyramidal crown. The horizontal branches produce long, drooping twigs which give the tree an attractive, fine-textured appearance. The leaves are linear, 0.75 to 1.25 inches long and are unstalked. Each leaf is keeled below and flattened above. Leaves are arranged spirally on the twigs, clustered at the ends of spur shoots. Spring growth is bright green, turning a soft, darker green in summer, and finally a brilliant golden color late in the fall. Unlike most conifers, this species is deciduous. In spring, tiny, bright red cones are formed, which turn yellowish-brown at maturity. They are ovoid, 0.75 to 1.25 inches long and are held upright on the twigs, persisting for some years. Cone scales are overlapping and covered with soft, brown down on the back sides. Terminal buds are slightly resinous, globose and short-pointed, with pointed, brown, overlapping scales. Lateral buds are smaller and blunter. Bark of young trees is thin and scaly, becoming separated into grayish-brown plates with deep fissures which expose the reddish-brown inner bark as the tree matures.

Similar species:

tamarack (L. larcinia)

Ecology:
Distribution: The European larch is native to the Alps in central Europe from southeast France eastward to Vienna. It is widely planted in Europe and the US and is the only deciduous conifer commonly planted in Iowa.

Habitat: Hardy from zone 2 to 6, the European larch prefers moist, well-drained soils or deep, fertile soils overlying limestone or sandstone. It grows well on moderately calcareous soils, but is intolerant of dry, shallow, highly calcareous soils, compaction and drought. Trees require free circulation of air and a sunny position. This larch is relatively free of pests and diseases, although canker may be a serious problem. Woolly larch aphid, larch sawfly, needle rust and larch casebearer sometimes occur.

Uses:
Wood: At 40 years of age, the European larch may be harvested for commercial timber use. The wood is strong, hard, heavy, coarse-grained and durable. In Europe it is used for poles, posts, vats, mine props, railroad ties, ship-building and construction. It makes good charcoal, but sparks freely and is not a good firewood. The wood is distilled to provide ethyl alcohol. Bark is used in tanning and dyeing, and in diuretic medicines, and larch turpentine is collected by tapping for use in veterinary medicines. Manna of larch, a white, saccharine substance exuded from the summer foliage, was formerly used in medicines.

Wildlife: The larch is of minor importance to wildlife. Grouse eat the foliage and buds. The seeds are eaten by red crossbills, and the bark and seeds feed porcupines, squirrels and hares.

Horticulture: This larch is an attractive, elegant tree often used as a screen or specimen planting in the US. It grows faster than most other conifers, is windfirm, and is recommended for conservation plantings and landscaping. 'Fastigiata' is a columnar form, with short, ascending branches. 'Pendula' has distinctly drooping branches. The Dunkeld larch (Larix X eurolepis), a cross between the European larch and the Japanese larch, is more resistant to insect or fungal attack. The tamarack or eastern larch (L. larcinia), a native of Canada and northern US, is sometimes planted in Iowa, but it is smaller and less attractive than the European larch and requires acid soil.