MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



TAMARACK (Hacmatack, Larch) (Larix 



Koch) 



PREFERRING cool, swampy situations, though 

 often growing on uplands, it occurs in most parts 

 of the State, more commonly in the northern sections 

 than elsewhere. 



In habit it is a tall tree with regular and narrow 

 pyramidal outline. Ultimately it acquires a height of 

 fifty to sixty feet and a diameter of eighteen to twenty 

 inches. The trunk is continuous and tapers rapidly. 

 The branches are slender and horizontal or slightly 

 ascending. 



TAMARACK 



Branchlet and cone. One-half natural size. 



The leaves are borne in clusters. They are linear 

 in shape, from three-fourths of an inch to one and a 

 quarter inches in length and bright green in color. In 

 the autumn before they fall they become yellow. 



The cones are small, almost globular, nearly three- 

 quarters of an inch long and light brown in color. 

 The seeds are small and winged. 



The wood is close-grained, heavy, strong and dur- 

 able. It is used in shipbuilding, and for posts and 

 railroad ties. 



While this species is found in moist places, it often 

 does equally well when planted on upland. 



10 



