CHAP. CXIII. CONl'FERiE. XA V RIX. 2351 



¥ L. e. 2 laxa Laws., 1. c. The loose-headed European Larch. — " True spe- 

 cimens of this variety may easily be distinguished from the others 

 when in nursery rows, by their more rapid growth, more horizontal 

 and less crowded branches, and by the darker green, or somewhat 

 glaucous, colour of the foliage. When the trees advance to a more 

 mature age, they, besides their greater size and the preceding pecu- 

 liarities of the foliage, are easily distinguished by their larger, thin- 

 ner, more graceful and somewhat pendent branches; cones also 

 larger, more tapering, pointed, and less compact, than those of the 

 common sort. These remarks are merely from observation of the 

 trees in a young state ; but it would be a matter of some importance 

 to ascertain the difference, if any, in the value of their timber." 

 (Laws. Man., p. 386.) 



¥ L. e. 3 compdcta Laws., 1. c. The compact, or crowded-branched, Larch. 

 — This name is applied, in Lawson's Manual, to a very distinct kind 

 of larch, without any regard as to whether it should be allowed to 

 rank only as a variety of Lkrix europae^a, or form a different species. 

 Specimens of the cones and branches of L. e. 3 compacta were re- 

 ceived from Mr. A. Gorrie, Annat Gardens, who had the seeds sent 

 him, about 20 years since, from Yorkshire, as those of the American 

 black larch (L. americana pendula) ; to which, however, it does not 

 bear the least resemblance. " The trees at Annat Garden are growing 

 on very superior, rather heavy, deep, blackish soil ; and the largest 

 had not, in 1835, attained more than 16 ft. in height, not being much 

 more than half the size which the common larch would have attained 

 under similar circumstances. In habit of growth, the tree is conical 

 or pyramidal, like the common larch ; but its branches are very 

 brittle, or easily broken from the trunk ; numerous, horizontal, or 

 slightly bent down near their base ; aspiring afterwards, and the larger 

 ones are finally erect towards the point, with pretty regularly ver- 

 ticillate branchlets ; towards the centre of the tree, however, these 

 are pendulous, and remarkably thickly interwoven with one another. 

 The bark is very rugged or scaly, and thick ; cones often small, 

 irregularly shaped, with very much waved and incurved, or folded, 

 scales; but, when fairly grown, nearly as large as those of the 

 common larch ; than which, however, their scales are smoother, 

 blunter-pointed, considerably more incurved at the margins, and 

 equally persistent. Bracteas much shorter than the scales. The seeds 

 are seldom perfected in this country ; and the foliage is of a light 

 grassy-green colour. Regarding the quality of the wood of this 

 variety or species little is known ; but, from its slow growth, it does 

 not appear likely ever to become of importance as a forest tree. " 

 (Lawson^s Manual, p. 387.) 



¥ L. e. 4 pendula Laws., 1. c. The weeping European Larch ; the weeping 

 Larch from the Tyrol, Hort. Trans., vol. iv . p. 416. — This, Mr. 

 Lawson observes, is rather a scarce variety, and very distinct. 

 There are large trees of it in the Duke of Athol's plantations at 

 Dunkeld, raised from seeds received from the Tyrol. The tree is 

 distinguished by the very pendulous habit of its branches, which 

 somewhat resemble those of L. americana pendula ; from which, 

 however, it differs in the greater length of its leaves, and the larger 

 size of its cones. 



¥ L. e. 5 repens Laws. 1. c. — A tree with this name in the Horticultural 

 Society's Garden, received from Lord De Roos, has a tendency to 

 extend its lower branches along the ground, rather more than the 

 common larch. It is of luxuriant growth, and, from its leaves and 

 cones, evidently belongs to L. europae'a. It was, in 1837, after being 

 12 years planted, 16ft. high; and the branches covered a space 

 upwards of 20 ft. in diameter. 

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