



AMERICAN LARCH OR TAMARACK 



The Tamarack or Larch is, as a rule, called by every one an ever- 

 green tree because it looks very much like the other conifers that are 

 ever green, having cones very similar to them. How often, however, 



have we noticed some places in the 

 woods, especially the swamps, 

 where there were many of these 

 trees standing throughout the whole 

 winter as if dead, and, perhaps we 

 have counted them with the dead 

 and dying when they were only 

 sleeping and resting, like most of 

 our broad-leaf trees, awaiting the 

 coming of the spring. 



The Larch is, then, one of our 

 conifers or needle-leaf trees which 

 shed their leaves in the fall of the 

 year. It- is not difficult to recognize 

 this cone bearer from the rest of 

 the needle-leaf trees. In the spring 

 and in the summer the very light 

 pale green leaves, short like the 

 spruces and firs, but borne in 

 clusters of ten or more on the tips 

 of very short branches, give to the 

 foliage and the whole tree an ap- 

 pearance distinct from that of any 

 other conifer; while in the winter 

 its nakedness, with the cones on the 

 limbs, gives it a prominence unlike 

 any other tree. 



In the State of Ohio and in the 

 Nortfo the Tamarack is generally 

 found in what are known as Tama- 

 rack swamps. The long fibrous roots are often seen in the water, great 

 distances from the base of the tree. These roots were used by the 

 Indians to bind their canoes together. 



Longfellow mentions this in his "Hiawatha" : 



"Give me of your roots, O Tamarack ! 

 Of your fibrous roots, O Larch tree ! 

 My canpe to bind together, 

 So tb";t)ind the ends together 

 fe ~~ That the waters may not enter, 

 That the river may not wet me." 

 14 



A Tamarack, or Larch. Sheds its 

 leaves in October. 



