PINACE^ 287 



Larix Griffithii is only successful in the milder parts of Britain 

 and does not succeed at Kew, but there is a tree 78 ft. high at 

 Coldrennick in Cornwall/ and a fine specimen at Strete Raleigh 

 near Exeter. 



Larix kurilensis, Mayr. 



KuRiLE Larch. 



Larix daliurica, var. japonica, Maxiinowicz. 



A tree up to 70 ft. high, and sometimes 7-8 ft. in girth in 

 its native country. Bark reddish-brown. Branches horizontal, 

 branchlets short and dense. Young shoots downy, reddish-brown 

 the second year. Terminal buds dark red, covered by a few long- 

 pointed, resinous scales, the margins fringed with sillcy hairs. 

 Lateral buds similar in shape, but smaller. Buds of short shoots 

 rounded. Leaves short, |-1 in. long, flat, rounded at the apex, 

 15-25 together on the short shoots ; upper surface green, usually 

 without stomata, under-surface distinctly keeled, with a con- 

 spicuous band of stomata on each side of the keel. Male flowers 

 in very small round heads. Female flowers small. Cones short- 

 stalked, |-f in. long, and the same in width when expanded, 

 composed of about 15 scales; scales about ^ in. long and wide, 

 narrowing gradually to the apex, which is about ^',; in. wide, the 

 edges curving inwards, slightly downy on the outer surface, gaping 

 wide when ripe. Seeds small, about | in. long with a wing nearly 

 \ in. long. 



L. kiirilensis is closely allied to L. dahurica, and is often 

 regarded as a variety of that species. It appears to differ chiefly 

 in its denser branch system, shorter leaves, smaller cones and 

 pointed cone scales, the apex of the scales being narrower than 

 in any other larch. 



It is found in the islands of Karafuto, Iturupp, and Shikotan 

 of the Kurile group and is called Shikotanmatsu by the Japanese. 

 It was discovered by Majr and was introduced to Europe by him 

 in 1888. 



Wilson^ states that it is also abundant in swampy places 

 throughout Japanese Saghahen, where it forms pure forests or is 

 mixed with other trees. The wood is hard, reddish in colour, and 

 stands moisture for a lengthy period. It is consequently largely 

 in demand for shipbuilding, public engineering, and household 

 furniture. 



Larix kurilensis is in cultivation at Kew, but grows slowly 

 in comparison with several other species. The leaves appear very 

 early and are liable to injury by frost. In the peculiarly trying 

 spring of 1922 it suffered less than the various Siberian and 

 Chinese species. 



1 The Oanlen, November 30, 1918. 



2 Conifers of Japan, 33 (1916). 



