European Larch

European Larch

Taxobox
name = European Larch
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3



image_width = 240px
image_caption = European Larch foliage and cones
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Pinaceae
genus = "Larix"
species = "L. decidua"
binomial = "Larix decidua"
binomial_authority = Mill.

European Larch ("Larix decidua") is a species of larch native to the mountains of central Europe, in the Alps and Carpathians, with disjunct lowland populations in northern Poland and southern Lithuania.

It is a medium-size to large deciduous coniferous tree reaching 25-45 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter (exceptionally, to 55 m tall and 2 m diameter). The crown is conic when young, becoming broad with age; the main branches are level to upswept, with the side branches often pendulous. The shoots are dimorphic, with growth divided into long shoots (typically 10-50 cm long) and bearing several buds, and short shoots only 1-2 mm long with only a single bud. The leaves are needle-like, light green, 2-4 cm long which turn bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pale yellow-buff shoots bare until the next spring.

The cones are erect, ovoid-conic, 2-6 cm long, with 30-70 erect or slightly incurved (not reflexed) seed scales; they are green variably flushed red when immature, turning brown and opening to release the seeds when mature, 4-6 months after pollination. The old cones commonly remain on the tree for many years, turning dull grey-black.

It is very cold tolerant, able to survive winter temperatures down to at least -50°C, and is among the tree line trees in the Alps, reaching 2400 m altitude, though most abundant from 1000-2000 m. It only grows on well-drained soils, avoiding waterlogged ground.

The seeds are an important food for some birds, notably Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Citril Finch, while the buds and immature cones are eaten by Capercaillie. European Larch needles are the only known food for caterpillars of the case-bearer moth "Coleophora sibiricella".

There are two subspecies:
*"Larix decidua" subsp. "decidua" - European Larch or Alpine Larch. Most of the range, except as below. Cones 2.5-6 cm; shoots yellow-buff.
*"Larix decidua" subsp. "polonica" - Polish Larch. Disjunct in lowland northern Poland. Cones 2-3 cm; shoots very pale yellow-buff, almost white.

Uses

The wood is tough and durable, but also flexible in thin strips, and is particularly valued for yacht building; wood used for this must be free of knots, and can only be obtained from old trees that were pruned when young to remove side branches. Small larch poles are widely used for rustic fencing.

Gallery

References

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • European larch — noun tall European tree having a slender conic crown, flat needlelike leaves, and hairy cone scales • Syn: ↑Larix decidua • Hypernyms: ↑larch, ↑larch tree * * * noun Usage: usually capitalized E : a larch (Larix decidua …   Useful english dictionary

  • European larch — europinis maumedis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pušinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medieninis, vaistinis augalas (Larix decidua), paplitęs Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Larix decidua angl. common larch; European larch; larch tree vok.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • European larch — a pine tree, Larix decidua, of northern and central Europe, having slender, yellow gray branchlets and oval cones with downy scales, grown for timber and as an ornamental. [1860 65, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • Larch — (l[aum]rch), n. [Cf. OE. larege (Cotgrave), It. larice, Sp. larice, alerce, G. l[ a]rche; all fr. L. larix, icis, Gr. la rix.] (Bot.) A genus of coniferous trees, having deciduous leaves, in fascicles (see Illust. of {Fascicle}). Note: The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Larch Hill — infobox WorldScouting type=campsite| name=Larch Hill|location=Tibradden, Dublin|country=Ireland|f date=1938|founder=Prof. JB Whelehan |owner=Scouting Ireland|website= http://www.larchhill.orgLarch Hill is the national campsite, and administrative …   Wikipedia

  • Larch — Taxobox name = Larch image width = 240px image caption = Larix decidua in autumn regnum = Plantae divisio = Pinophyta classis = Pinopsida ordo = Pinales familia = Pinaceae genus = Larix genus authority = Philip Miller subdivision ranks = Species… …   Wikipedia

  • larch — larcher, adj. /lahrch/, n. 1. any coniferous tree of the genus Larix, yielding a tough durable wood. 2. the wood of such a tree. [1540 50; earlier larche < MHG L laric (s. of larix) larch] * * * Any of about 10–12 species of coniferous trees that …   Universalium

  • larch tree — noun any of numerous conifers of the genus Larix all having deciduous needlelike leaves • Syn: ↑larch • Hypernyms: ↑conifer, ↑coniferous tree • Hyponyms: ↑American larch, ↑tamarack, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • larch tree — europinis maumedis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pušinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medieninis, vaistinis augalas (Larix decidua), paplitęs Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Larix decidua angl. common larch; European larch; larch tree vok.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Siberian Larch — Taxobox name = Siberian Larch status = LR/lc | status system = IUCN2.3 image width = 250px image caption = Siberian Larch in Montreal Botanic Gardens regnum = Plantae divisio = Pinophyta classis = Pinopsida ordo = Pinales familia = Pinaceae genus …   Wikipedia

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