36 



Common Trees 



AMERICAN LARCH 



Larix laricina, (DuRoi) Koch 



THE AMERICAN Larch, also called Tamarack, is a north- 

 ern tree. It stands out prominently among its associates 



because it sheds all of its leaves in autumn. 



The leaves are flat, soft, slender and about one inch long. 



On the twigs of last season's growth they occur singly; on 



the spurs of older 



twigs in clusters of 



ten or more. 



The cones are 



among the smallest 



of any American 



tree. They average 



two-fifths of an inch 



in length, bear about 



12 scales, and often 



persist for many 



years. 



The glossy brown 



twigs are without 



foliage in winter and 



covered with numer- 

 ous stubby spurs. 



The bark on oldei - 



trunks is reddish- 

 brown and breaks up 



into small roundish 



scales. 



The wood is 



heavy, hard, and dur- 

 able in contact with 



the soil. It is used 

 for posts, poles, ties, 

 and in ship building. 

 The American 

 Larch is found from Newfoundland south to northern New 

 Jersey and Pennsylvania, and west to Minnesota and 

 through British Columbia to Alaska. It occurs in swamps 

 and other wet places throughout northern New York, south- 

 ward to Dutchess county, central New York, and westward 

 to Cattaraugus county. It rarely exceeds 50 feet in height 

 and 2 feet in diameter. Wet places are its favorite home. 



The European Larch (Larix decidua, Miller) has been 

 planted rather widely in New York. The latter has larger 

 and usually erect cones, stouter and yellower twigs, and 

 longer and more abundant leaves. 



AMERICAN LARCH 

 One-half natural sice. 



