2 BULLETIN" 680, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LARCHES. 



The larches, 2 some of which are also called tamaracks, belong to 

 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 

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

 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, b). 

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

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

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

 shoots. 



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

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

 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 small pea, and 

 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 

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

 by a bundle of leaves. 



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 (PL III, d). Larch 

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

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

 7. Succeeding these, the young stem bears single scattered leaves, 

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

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

 after which they produce the adult clusters of leaves. 



The larches are important timber trees. They produce straight, 

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

 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 



2 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 nobilis, which is a true fir 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. 



