Larch

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Larch
Larch, common name for a small genus of trees, restricted to the colder parts of the northern hemisphere. Larches belong to the pine family and are unusual among the conifers in that they are deciduous: their soft, needlelike leaves, borne in dense clusters, drop in the fall, and new leaves do not appear until the following spring. Of the ten species of larch in the world, three occur in North America. The American larch, also called tamarack or hackmatack, occurs from Newfoundland and Labrador to Alaska. The strong durable wood is used in rough construction and as poles, posts, and railway ties. Western larch occurs in the northwestern United States and southeastern Canada. Its close-grained, durable wood is used in flooring. The subalpine larch, occurs in the same areas as the western larch but usually at higher altitudes. The European larch is an important timber tree in Europe, where it has been planted extensively as a crop. It is grown in North America as an ornamental.

Scientific classification: Larches make up the genus Larix in the family Pinaceae. The American larch is classified as Larix laricina, the western larch as Larix occidentalis, the subalpine larch as Larix lyallii, and the European larch as Larix decidua.

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