Larix
(an ancient name for the Larch, used by Dioscorides). Larch. ORD. Coniferae. A genus comprising about eight species of ornamental, hardy, deciduous trees (formerly included under Pinus), natives of the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Flowers monoecious, or male and female on the same plant; male catkins small, without footstalks, egg-shaped; female ones erect, solitary, ovate, much longer than the males. Leaves linear, obtuse, soft, without footstalks, produced singly or in bundles, deciduous. Cones small, oval-obtuse or somewhat cylindrical, consisting of but few scales. Some of the species are extensively grown for their timber, which is valuable for many purposes. For general culture, see Pinus. L. americana (American).* Black Larch. l. shorter and more slender than in the common Larch. Branches horizontal. cones ovoid, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, of few rounded scales. h. 70ft. to 90ft. North America (in swamps). A slender tree, with heavy, close-grained wood. SYNS. Pinus microcarpa, P. pendula. L. a. brevifolia (short-leaved). A synonym of L. occidentalis. L. dahurica (Dahurian). l. single, or in bundles of many together round a central bud, soft, bright green, narrow-linear, blunt pointed, spreading, recurved, deciduous. Branches distorted and pendulous. cones oblong or egg-shaped, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long. Dahuria, &c. A small tree, dwarfing down by climate to a stunted bush; it is, in the Arctic regions of Siberia, one of the last vestiges of arborescent vegetation.
L. decidua (deciduous). A synonym of L. europaea.
L. europaea (European).* Common Larch. l. linear, soft, blunt, or rounded at the points, spreading, slightly recurved, bright green. Branches spreading, horizontal. cones longish-oval, erect, brown, 1in. long, ripening late in the autumn, remaining a long time on the trees; scales persistent, roundish. h. 80ft. to 100ft. Europe (at high altitudes), 1629. A fine, quick-growing tree. This splendid species requires an elevated open situation, in which moisture does not linger, and prefers an alluvial sandy loam. The regularity of outline during every stage of growth, which makes it a beautiful object for decoration, has caused it to be frequently employed in situations unfavourable to its natural development, such as close to dwelling or other houses, where there is not sufficient space for it to expand and perfect its full beauty when it assumes a conical form. The Larch, being deciduous, presents a bare appearance after its leaves have fallen; and is, therefore, generally mixed with other trees of an evergreen character. Its leaves are often spoilt by the early frosts, which do plantations of Larch much injury on southern exposures, though no amount of cold appears to affect the tree during winter. It is frequently grown in conjunction with Scotch Pine, though the Oak, perhaps, is its most natural associate, as the latter derives nourishment from a great depth of soil, and is late in being furnished with leaves. The Larch appears to flourish best on steep declivities, or slopes of ravines, where the soil is moist, but where the water runs both off the surface and beneath the ground rapidly. In stagnant moisture, it becomes dwarfed in its growth. SYNS. L. decidua, L. pyramidalis, L. vulgaris. Two varieties worth growing are: glauca, having decidedly glaucous foliage; and pendula, with slender, drooping branches.
L. Griffithii (Griffith's). Sikkim Larch. l. longer than those of the common Larch, slightly glaucous when young, spreading, and of a beautiful light green, becoming red in autumn. cones large, oblong-cylindrical, without footstalks, blunt-pointed, erect, 2 1/2in. long, 1in. broad, slightly incurved, reddish-purple when young, and abounding in white resin. h. 30ft. to 40ft. Bhotan, Sikkim, and Eastern Nepaul. An inelegant, awkwardly-branched tree. Its timber is small, but splits well, and is employed for flooring. (C. H. P. 21.) L. japonica (Japanese). A synonym of L. leptolepis.
L. Ledebourii (Ledebour's). Russian or Archangel Larch. l. soft, linear, broad, and rather flat on strong young plants, but on older ones rather four-sided, obtuse, darker green, and with much longer and broader foliage than the common Larch. Branches robust, but not numerous, and pendent. cones very small, erect, slender, and rather loose. h. 80ft. to 100ft. Siberia. A luxuriant tree.
L. leptolepis (slender-scaled).* l. linear, blunt-pointed, soft, spreading at the points, slightly recurved, of a beautiful light green, 3/4in. to 1 1/4in. long. Branches nearly cylindrical, smooth, very spreading, horizontal, and in regular whorls; branchlets slender, mostly drooping. cones ovate, rounded, blunt at ends, terminal and numerous on the ends of the small branchlets, remaining on the trees, after the seed is shed, for years; scales numerous, thin, flat, greyish-brown. h. 40ft. Japan. This tree is found at great elevations, becoming, at 9000ft., a mere shrub, 2ft. high. SYN. L. iaponica. (S. Z. F. J. 105, under name of Abies leptolepis.) L. Lyallii (Lyall's). l. on branchlets in bundles of forty or fifty, erectly spreading, curved, narrow-linear, blunt-pointed, rather soft, 3/4in. long, about a quarter of a line broad; those on young shoots single, and much longer. Branches nearly horizontal; young shoots and buds clothed with cobwebby wool. cones, young ones solitary, sessile, 2in. long, 1in. broad; full-sized cones unknown. h. 36ft. to 45ft. Rocky Mountains, &c., at great altitudes. A remarkable pyramidal tree.
L. occidentalis (Western).* l. on branchlets in bundles of fourteen to twenty, erectly spreading, stiff, narrow-linear, attenuated at base, somewhat obtuse at apex, pale green, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, three-quarters of a line wide. Branches short; lower ones horizontal or slightly declining; upper ones ascending. cones small, solitary, erect, ovate-globose, 3/4in. to 1in. long, 3/4in. broad; scales orbicular, loosely imbricated. h. sometimes 150ft. North-west America (at heights of 6000ft.). A splendid pyramidal tree. SYNS. L. americana brevifolia, Pinus Nuttallii.
L. pyramidalis (pyramidal). A synonym of L. europaea. L. vulgaris (common). A synonym of L. europaea.