Larix decidua

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Larix decidua
European larch
L'A de Bran, (1798 m) Val d'Anniviers. Europese larix (Larix decidua) 01.JPG
European larch in l'A Bran, (1798 m) Val d'Annivier.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Larix
Species:
L. decidua
Binomial name
Larix decidua
Larix decidua range.svg
Distribution:
 Larix decidua var. decidua
 Larix decidua var. carpatica
 Larix decidua subsp. polonica
Synonyms [2]
List
    • Abies larix(L.) J.St.-Hil.
    • Larix caducifoliaGilib.
    • Larix europaeaDC.
    • Larix excelsaLink
    • Larix gracilisA.Dietr.
    • Larix larix(L.) H.Karst.
    • Larix pyramidalisSalisb.
    • Larix sudeticaDomin
    • Larix vulgarisFisch. ex Spach
    • Peuce larix(L.) Rich.
    • Picea larix(L.) Peterm.
    • Pinus laetaSalisb.
    • Pinus larixL.

Larix decidua, the European larch, is a species of larch native to the mountains of central Europe, in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains, with small disjunct lowland populations in northern Poland. Its life span has been confirmed to be close to 1000 years, [3] with ages of around 2000 years likely. [4]

Contents

Description

Larix decidua is a medium-size to large deciduous coniferous tree reaching 25–45 m tall, with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter (exceptionally, to 53.8 m tall [5] and 11.20 m girth [3.56 m diameter] [6] ). The crown is conic when young, becoming broad and often irregular 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 10-90 erect or slightly incurved (not reflexed) seed scales; they are bright pinkish-red at pollination, then green variably flushed red to purplish when immature, and turn 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 and is not shade tolerant.

It is closely related to Siberian larch Larix sibirica and similar in morphology; the two are best distinguished by the dense pubescence on the cone scales of L. sibirica, compared to the glabrous or only thinly pubescent cone scales of L. decidua. [7]

Subtaxa

The following varieties are accepted by Plants of the World Online : [2]

The Polish larch, being disjunct and growing in a different lowland habitat with a more continental rather than montane sub-oceanic climate, is widely treated at the higher rank of subspecies rather than variety, Larix decidua subsp. polonica(Racib. ex Wóycicki) Domin. [8] [9] [10] [7] The Russian botanist Evgenij Bobrov considered it to be an ancient natural hybrid between European larch and Siberian larch L. sibirica, [11] but this has been shown to be incorrect, with it derived from only L. decidua. [12]

Ecology

A siskin eating a European larch seed Siskin eating European Larch seeds (27476733).jpg
A siskin eating a European larch seed

The seeds are an important food for some birds, notably siskin, redpoll, and citril finch, while the buds and immature cones are eaten by capercaillie.

Larch needles (including L. decidua and L. sibirica) are the only known food for caterpillars of the case-bearer moth Coleophora sibiricella ; its cone scales are used as food by the caterpillars of the tortrix moth Cydia illutana .

It is susceptible to larch canker Lachnellula willkommii .

Cultivation

European larch morphology features from book: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thome Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz, 1885, Gera, Germany. Illustration Larix decudua0.jpg
European larch morphology features from book: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885, Gera, Germany.

Larix decidua is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree for planting in gardens and parks. It was first cultivated in Britain in or shortly before 1629. [13] John Evelyn encouraged its wider planting and use. [14] Three successive Dukes of Atholl planted it widely [15] and the fourth Duke wrote "Observations on Larch" in 1807 further encouraged its cultivation, which he practiced on a large scale. [16] One of the larches planted by the second Duke of Atholl at Dunkeld in 1737 is still standing, [17] as are two slightly older specimens planted in 1725 at Kailzie, near Peebles in southern Scotland. [18] [19]

European larch is now widely naturalised in northern Europe, including Britain, [20] Scandinavia, and in Germany north of its native range. It is also widely cultivated in southern Canada and the northeastern United States, and is naturalised in Maine, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island. In the northern Appalachian Mountains it is often used for the reforestation of surface mines. [21] European larch can grow on drier soils and tolerate warmer climates than tamarack (Larix laricina) or Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), being better suited to non-boreal climates. [22]

Hybrids

European larch readily hybridises with Japanese larch L. kaempferi when the two are planted together; the hybrid, named Dunkeld larch or hybrid larch ( Larix × marschlinsii Coaz, syn. L. × eurolepis), is extensively used in forestry, and is also naturalised in Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere. [13] [23] It is faster-growing than either parent, and more resistant to larch canker Lachnellula willkommii . [13] [24] Hybrids with several other larches have been made, but are rare; [8] [13] the hybrid with Larix laricina has also been named, as Larix × pendula(Solander) Salisbury. [13]

Bonsai

The European larch is a popular bonsai species, with many unique specimens available in European circles, and is popularly used in bonsai forest groups. [25]

Invasive species

In New Zealand, Larix decidua is classed as a wilding conifer, an invasive species which spreads into the high country, where it had been planted by the New Zealand Forest Service for erosion control.

Uses

The wood is tough and durable, but also flexible in thin strips, and is particularly valued for yacht building; wood used for this, known as 'boatskin larch', [13] [26] 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.

Because of its fast juvenile growth and its pioneer character, larch has found numerous applications in forestry and agroforestry. It is used as a 'preparatory species' to afforest open land, abandoned farmland or disturbed land, and as a 'nurse species' prior to the introduction of more demanding species. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larch</span> Genus of deciduous conifers in the family Pinaceae

Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus Larix, of the family Pinaceae. Growing from 20 to 45 metres tall, they are native to the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, where they are found in lowland forests in the high latitudes, and high in mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the boreal forests of Siberia and Canada. Although they are conifers, larches are deciduous trees that lose their needles in the autumn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fir</span> Genus of plants in the conifer family cedar

Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus Abies in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The genus is most closely related to Cedrus (cedar).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two-barred crossbill</span> Species of bird

The two-barred crossbill or white-winged crossbill is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and the Palearctic.

<i>Pinus mugo</i> Species of plant

Pinus mugo, known as dwarf mountain pine, mountain pine, scrub mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine, bog pine, creeping pine, or mugo pine, is a species of conifer, native to high elevation habitats from southwestern to Central Europe and Southeast Europe.

<i>Picea abies</i> Species of plant

Picea abies, the Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.

<i>Pinus cembra</i> Species of plant

Pinus cembra, also known as Swiss pine, Swiss stone pine, Arolla pine, Austrian stone pine, or just stone pine, is a species of pine tree in the subgenus Strobus.

<i>Larix laricina</i> Species of larch native to North America

Larix laricina, commonly known as the tamarack, hackmatack, eastern larch, black larch, red larch, or American larch, is a species of larch native to Canada, from eastern Yukon and Inuvik, Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland, and also south into the upper northeastern United States from Minnesota to Cranesville Swamp, West Virginia; there is also an isolated population in central Alaska.

<i>Pseudolarix amabilis</i> Species of deciduous conifers in the family Pinaceae

Pseudolarix amabilis is a species of coniferous tree in the pine family Pinaceae. The species is commonly known as golden larch, but being more closely related to Keteleeria, Abies and Cedrus, is not a true larch (Larix). P. amabilis is native to eastern China, occurring in small areas in the mountains of southern Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei and eastern Sichuan, at altitudes of 100–1,500 m (328–4,921 ft). The earliest known occurrences are of compression fossils found in the Ypresian Allenby Formation and mummified fossils found in the Late Eocene Buchanan Lake Formation on Axel Heiberg Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Larix Arboretum</span>

The International Larix Arboretum is a small arboretum of 1.2 acres (4,900 m2) dedicated to the scientific study of the larch (Larix) species. It is located within the Coram Experimental Forest, 30 yards SE of the Hungry Horse Ranger station at 10 Hungry Horse Drive Hungry Horse, Montana. The Arboretum is open to the public, without charge, during daylight hours from April to October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western larch</span> Species of conifer

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<i>Larix kaempferi</i> Species of conifer in the pine family Pinaceae

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<i>Larix sibirica</i> Species of conifer

Larix sibirica, the Siberian larch or Russian larch, is a frost-hardy tree native to western Russia, from close to the Finnish border east to the Yenisei valley in central Siberia, where it hybridises with the Dahurian larch L. gmelinii of eastern Siberia; the hybrid is known as Larix × czekanowskii.

<i>Larix gmelinii</i> Species of conifer

Larix gmelinii, the Dahurian larch or Gmelin larch, is a species of larch native to eastern Siberia and adjacent northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China (Heilongjiang), South Korea and North Korea.

<i>Larix <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> czekanowskii</i> Species of conifer

Larix × czekanowskii is a larch species, likely a hybrid between Siberian larch and Dahurian larch.

<i>Cydia illutana</i> Species of moth

Cydia illutana is a small moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from western and central Europe, north to Scandinavia and east to Russia (Siberia).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpathian montane conifer forests</span> Terrestrial ecoregion in eastern Europe

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alps conifer and mixed forests</span> Ecoregion in Central Europe

The Alps conifer and mixed forests is a temperate coniferous forest ecoregion in central Europe. It extends along the Alps mountains through portions of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia. The ecoregion extends from the lower slopes of the Alps to its peaks, which include Mont Blanc, at 4,809 m (15,778 ft) the highest peak in the Alps.

References

  1. ↑ Farjon, A. (2017). "Larix decidua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T42309A83969267. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42309A83969267.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Larix decidua Mill". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Larix decidua - The Gymnosperm Database". www.conifers.org. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  4. ↑ "European Larch 'Santa Gertrude 1' in a forest, Val d'Ultimo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy". Monumental trees. 2001-07-15. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  5. ↑ "European Larch close to Richthof, Schlitz, Hesse, Germany". Monumental trees. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  6. ↑ "European Larch close to the cheese farm in Prairion, Vallese, Switzerland". Monumental trees. 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  7. 1 2 Rushforth, Keith (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. p. 777–785. ISBN   0-00-220013-9.
  8. 1 2 Vidaković, Mirko (1991). Conifers (English ed.). Croatia: Grafički Zavod Hrvatske. pp. 255–281.
  9. ↑ "Larix decidua". Euro+Med Plantbase. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  10. ↑ Litkowiec, Monika; Lewandowski, Andrzej; Burczyk, Jarosław (2018-12-20). "Genetic status of Polish larch (Larix decidua subsp. polonica (Racib. Domin)) from Chełmowa Mountain: implications for gene conservation". Dendrobiology. 80: 101–111. doi: 10.12657/denbio.080.010 . ISSN   1641-1307.
  11. ↑ Bobrov, E. G. (1972). "Synopsis Specierum Generis Larix Mill". Novitates Systematicae Plantarum Vascularum. 9: 4–15.
  12. ↑ Lewandowski, A. (1997). "Genetic relationships between European and Siberian larch, Larix spp. (Pinaceae), studied by allozymes. Is the Polish larch a hybrid between these two species?". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 204 (1/2). Springer: 65–73. ISSN   0378-2697. JSTOR   23642926 . Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mitchell, Alan (1972). "Conifers in the British Isles: a descriptive handbook" (PDF). pp. 130–134. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  14. ↑ The Gardener's Dictionary, Vol.1, Philip Miller, 1835
  15. ↑ A History of British Forest-trees: Indigenous and Introduced, Prideaux John Selby, 1842
  16. ↑ The Philosophical Magazine and Journal, Vol. 53, 1819
  17. ↑ "European Larch Dunkeld Cathedral, Dunkeld, Scotland, United Kingdom". Monumental trees. 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  18. ↑ "European Larch in the garden of Kailzie, Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom (1)". Monumental trees. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  19. ↑ "European Larch in the garden of Kailzie, Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom (2)". Monumental trees. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  20. ↑ "European Larch Larix decidua". PlantAtlas. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  21. ↑ "Larix decidua". US Forest Service. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  22. ↑ Perry, Leonard. "Larches Large and Small". University of Vermont Extension. Archived from the original on 4 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Hybrid Larch Larix × marschlinsii". PlantAtlas. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  24. ↑ "The advantages of hybrid over European and Japanese larch" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  25. ↑ D'Cruz, Mark. "Ma-Ke Bonsai Care Guide for Larix decidua". Ma-Ke Bonsai. Archived from the original on 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  26. ↑ King, Joshua (2017-07-24). "Deeside timber firm teams up with north-east boat festival for unique restoration project". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  27. ↑ Matras, Jan; Pâques, Luc E. (2008). European Larch, Larix decidua (PDF). Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
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