IML Tree of the month 2:The Larch

The Larch is one of the most common trees in the Alps, and is almost unique in that it is a deciduous conifer.  A conifer is a 'tree which bears cones and needle-like or scale-like leaves that are typically evergreen.'  This comes from the Latin, conus, meaning 'cone-bearing'.  Deciduous means '(of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually.'  From the Latin, deciduus, from decidere, meaning 'to fall down or off.  Interestingly it can also denote the milk teeth of a mammal which are shed after a time.

It is part of the family Pinaceae.

Close up of a Larch in winter

Identification

Height: 20-50m tall

Needles: flattened, soft, 20-40mm long, under 10mm wide, and in tufts of 20-50 on short woody knobs, or radially arranged on younger shoots on twigs.  These turn from light green to golden yellow before falling.  Japanese Larch leaves tend to be more blue-green, European Larch is a brighter fresh green.

Cones: 1-9cm long, small.  On European Larch the cone scales are pressed towards the body of the cone, however on Japanese Larch these are backwards like rose petals.

Bark: Pinky brown, thick, developing wide fissures with age.  Twigs are amber or slightly pink and hairless.
Buds: Golden brown

Age: 250 years
European larch is monoecious, both male and female flowers are found on the same tree.  Male ones form on the underside of shoots, female ones are at the tips of shoots, in flower like clusters of scales in pink, green or white, called 'larch roses'.  The female flowers ripen into brown cones 30-40mm long with a hollow top.


Larix Decidua, the European Larch from http://fiori-di-bach.reflexal.com/images/tavole%20botaniche/Larix_decidua.jpg

Uses
One of the first trees used for timber - resistant to rop
As a tough, waterproof and durable, coarse-grained wood Larch is used in a variety of situations including:
Building yachts
Fencing and gates
Garden Furniture
Roof shingles
Coffins
The flowers were used in herbal remedies centuries ago to treat constipation, rheumatism, bronchitis, bleeding gums, earache and gout.
Europeans wore items made of Larch to protect themselves from evil spirits

A Larch tree we saw out skiing today in the Ecrins, French Alps

Fun facts
They can retain old cones on their stems for many years
Introduced to the UK in the early 17th Century originally as an ornamental tree before it's properties as a timber were 'found'
Popular in Bonsai culture
In central and NE Asia childless women believe that spending a night under a Larch will help them conceive a baby.
The city of Venice is almost entirely built in Larch (the piles which hold the city up)
The Society of Arts in England used to present gold medals for superior Larch tree cultivations.
A sacred larch existed in Austria until 1859.  It was said that if you cut the tree you would be wounded to the same depth, and would not heal until the tree did.

An IML identifying a Larch earlier today.  Made harder by the fact that it was a very small tree with needles on it!