2 BULLETIN 680, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. ., 



GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LARCHES. j 



Tlie larches,^ some of which are also called tamaracks, belong to 1 



the genus Larix. \ 



They lose their leaves every autumn, their branches becoming 



bare in winter and in the spring putting forth new foliage. The | 



branches occur irregularly on the trunks, differing in this respect ; 

 from the branches of pines, spruces, and balsam firs, which are 



regularly whorled. The leaves resemble somewhat those of other ] 



conifers in being needle-shaped; but they are distinct in arrange- ; 



ment from the remainder of our native cone bearers in being produced j 



in little brushlike clusters, each of which contains from 12 to 40 I 

 leaves (Pis. I, II, III). These clusters are borne on all but the lead- 

 ing or new shoots, on which the leaves are scattered singly (PL III, h). 



The little budlike spurs that bear clusters of leaves are really aborted I 

 or partly suppressed branchlets, which, if conceived to be extended 



by growth, would show their leaves disposed singly as on the leading i 



shoots, I 



Both the male and female flowers, which appear with the new ^ 



leaves, are borne singly and separate from each other on the same j 



branches or twigs of the previous or an earlier year's growth. The ; 



male, or pollen-bearing, flowers are small, budlike, rounded, or ; 



elongated, yellow-green bodies about the size of a smaU pea, and i 

 are borne naked. Female flowers, which produce cones and seeds, 



are similarly small, elongated bodies composed of tiny scales, at the : 



bases of which are borne two minute naked ovules. The female i 



flowers are usually a bright purple or red. They are accompanied ' 



by a bundle of leaves. j 



The cones mature in a single season, but they often remain on the 



trees for one or more seasons after maturity. Two winged seeds are | 



borne under each of the thin fertile cone scales (PI. Ill, d). Larch ] 



cones open in the autumn shortly after they are matured, and shed j 



their seed. The seed-leaves (cotyledons) vary in number from 5 to j 



7. Succeeding these, the J^oung stem bears single scattered leaves, \ 



just as do also the leading or young shoots from branches of old i 



trees. Seedlings continue to bear single leaves for several years, j 



after which they produce the adult clusters of leaves. j 



The larches are important timber trees. They produce straight, 



taU stems, the wood of which is slightly resinous, strong, and moder- J 

 ately durable. The largest trees supply excellent saw timber. 



At least three distinct species of larch inhabit the United States. 

 One is found mainly in northeastern United States and adjacent 



* The name Larch (from the Latin Larix, a larch tree) is properly applied only to trees of the genus 

 Larix. During the last 25 years, however, "larch" has been, and is still, improperly used by Pacific 

 slope lumbermen and woodsmen as a name for the noble fir, Abies nobOis, which is a true fix or "balsam" 

 in no way directly related to the larches. This use of the name "larch" should be discontinued, for it has 

 led to much unnecessary confusion. 



