PINACEAE 
Tamarack 
Larix laricina (DuRoi) Kech [Larix americana Michx.] 
HABIT.—A tree sometimes 80-100 feet high, with a trunk 
diameter of 1-2 feet; forming a broad, open, irregular crown of 
horizontal branches. 
LEAVES.—Scattered singly along the leading shoots of 
clustered on the short lateral branchlets; linear, with blunt apex; 
rounded above, keeled beneath; about 1 inch long; bright green; 
sessile. Deciduous in early autumn. 
FLOWERS.—April-May, with the leaves, monoecious; the 
staminate sessile, subglobose, yellow, composed of many short- 
stalked anthers spirally arranged about a central axis; the pistil- 
late oblong, short-stalked, composed of orbicular, green scales 
(subtended by red bracts) spirally arranged about a central axis. 
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season, but persistent on the tree 
for a year longer; ovoid, obtuse, light brown, short-stalked cones, 
¥Y4-¥% inch long; seeds % inch long, with pale brown wings widest 
near the middle. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Small, globose, lustrous, dark red. 
BARK.—Twigs at first grayish, glaucous, later light orange- 
brown, and finally dark brown; red-brown and scaly on the trunk. 
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, very strong, coarse-grained, very 
durable, light brown, with thin, nearly white sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the state. 
HABITAT.—Prefers cold, deep swamps, or in the north 
coming out on the drier uplands. 
NOTES.—Becomes a picturesque tree in old age. Should 
be transplanted while dormant. 
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