Larix decidua, the European larch, is a species of larch native to the mountains of central Europe, in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains, with small disjunct lowland populations in northern Poland. Its life span has been confirmed to be close to 1000 years,
Description
Larix decidua is a medium-size to large
deciduous Pinophyta tree reaching tall, with a trunk up to diameter (exceptionally, to
and 11.20 m girth (3.56 m diameter
). The crown is conic when young, becoming broad and often irregular with age; the main branches are level to upswept, with the side branches often pendulous. The shoots are dimorphic, with growth divided into long shoots (typically long) and bearing several
, and short shoots only 1–2 mm long with only a single bud. The
leaf are needle-like, light green, long which turn bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pale yellow-buff shoots bare until the next spring.
The conifer cone are erect, ovoid-conic, long, with 10-90 erect or slightly incurved (not reflexed) seed scales; they are bright pinkish-red at pollination, then green variably flushed red to purplish when immature, and turn brown and opening to release the when mature, 4–6 months after pollination. The old cones commonly remain on the tree for many years, turning dull grey-black.
It is very cold tolerant, able to survive winter temperatures down to at least , and is among the tree line trees in the Alps, reaching altitude, though most abundant from . It only grows on well-drained soils, avoiding waterlogged ground and is not shade tolerance.
It is closely related to Larix sibirica Larix sibirica and similar in morphology; the two are best distinguished by the dense pubescence on the cone scales of L. sibirica, compared to the glabrous or only thinly pubescent cone scales of L. decidua.
Subtaxa
The following varieties are accepted by
Plants of the World Online:
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Larix decidua var. decidua – European larch or Alpine larch. Most of the range, except as below. Cones 2.5–6 cm; shoots yellow-buff.
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Larix decidua var. carpatica Domin – Carpathian larch. In the Carpathian Mountains. Differs little from nominate var. decidua.
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Larix decidua var. polonica (Racib. ex Wóycicki) Ostenf. & Syrach – Polish larch. Disjunct in lowland northern and central Poland. Cones 2–3 cm; shoots very pale yellow-buff, almost white.
The Polish larch, being disjunct and growing in a different lowland habitat with a more continental rather than montane
oceanic climate climate, is widely treated at the higher rank of
subspecies rather than variety,
Larix decidua subsp.
polonica (Racib. ex Wóycicki) Domin.
[ The Russian botanist Evgenij Bobrov considered it to be an ancient natural hybrid between European larch and Siberian larch L. sibirica,]
Ecology
The seeds are an important food for some birds, notably Eurasian siskin, redpoll, and citril finch, while the buds and immature cones are eaten by capercaillie.
Larch needles (including L. decidua and L. sibirica) are the only known food for of the Coleophoridae Coleophora sibiricella; its cone scales are used as food by the caterpillars of the tortrix moth Cydia illutana.
It is susceptible to larch canker Lachnellula willkommii.
Cultivation
Larix decidua is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree for planting in gardens and parks. It was first cultivated in Britain in or shortly before 1629.[The Gardener's Dictionary, Vol.1, Philip Miller, 1835] Three successive Dukes of Atholl planted it widely[A History of British Forest-trees: Indigenous and Introduced, Prideaux John Selby, 1842] and the fourth Duke wrote "Observations on Larch" in 1807 further encouraged its cultivation, which he practiced on a large scale.[The Philosophical Magazine and Journal, Vol. 53, 1819] One of the larches planted by the second Duke of Atholl at Dunkeld in 1737 is still standing,
European larch is now widely naturalised in northern Europe, including Britain,
Hybrids
European larch readily hybridises with Larix kaempferi L. kaempferi when the two are planted together; the hybrid, named Dunkeld larch or hybrid larch ( Larix × marschlinsii Coaz, syn. L. × eurolepis), is extensively used in forestry, and is also naturalised in Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere.[ the hybrid with Larix laricina has also been named, as Larix × pendula (Solander) Salisbury.][
]
Bonsai
The European larch is a popular bonsai species, with many unique specimens available in European circles, and is popularly used in bonsai forest groups.
Invasive species
In New Zealand, Larix decidua is classed as a wilding conifer, an invasive species which spreads into the high country, where it had been planted by the New Zealand Forest Service for erosion control.
Uses
The wood is tough and durable, but also flexible in thin strips, and is particularly valued for yacht building; wood used for this, known as 'boatskin larch',
Because of its fast juvenile growth and its pioneer character, larch has found numerous applications in forestry and agroforestry. It is used as a 'preparatory species' to afforest open land, abandoned farmland or disturbed land, and as a 'nurse species' prior to the introduction of more demanding species.
Gallery
File:Larix decidua Aletschwald.jpg| Larix decidua subsp. decidua at Aletschwald, Switzerland
File:Larix decidua ssp polonica, Gajówka, Kraków, Poland.jpg| Larix decidua subsp. polonica at Gajówka, Kraków, Poland
File:Larch in Guarda (crop).jpg|In winter, without leaves, Guarda, Graubünden, Switzerland
File:Albeck Seebachern bizarre Laerche 25102013 872.jpg|Larch in Albeck, district Feldkirchen, Carinthia, Austria
File:ArmentaraFels.jpg|South Tyrol, Wengen-La Val-La Valle
File:Larix decidua Embrun1.jpg|Parc régional du Queyras, Embrun, Hautes-Alpes, France
File:Albeck Seebachern Laerchenwald 25102013 869.jpg|Autumnal forest with larches, spruces and arolla pines at Seebachern
File:Bergtocht van Peio Paese naar Lago Covel in het Nationaal park Stelvio (Italië). Wond van een afgebroken tak. Europese larix (Larix decidua) 02.jpg|Bark, with a wound from a broken branch.
File:Larix decidua0.jpg|European larch foliage and cones
File:Larix decidua developing cone.JPG|Developing seed cone in detail
File:Larix-decidua 0088 S.jpg|Young seed cones (red) and pollen cones (yellow)
File:LarixDeciduaFemaleFlower.jpg|Young female cone
File:Larix decidua male cones 2.jpg|Male cones
File:Larch planted on a scree slope.JPG|European larch planted for erosion control on a scree slope in Canterbury, New Zealand
External links
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Larix decidua. Information, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)
