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Larix decidua

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Larix decidua
European larch
European larch in l'A Bran, (1798 m) Val d'Annivier.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Larix
Species:
L. decidua
Binomial name
Larix decidua
Distribution:
  Larix decidua var. decidua
  Larix decidua var. carpatica
  Larix decidua subsp. polonica
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Abies larix (L.) J.St.-Hil.
    • Larix caducifolia Gilib.
    • Larix europaea DC.
    • Larix excelsa Link
    • Larix gracilis A.Dietr.
    • Larix larix (L.) H.Karst.
    • Larix pyramidalis Salisb.
    • Larix sudetica Domin
    • Larix vulgaris Fisch. ex Spach
    • Peuce larix (L.) Rich.
    • Picea larix (L.) Peterm.
    • Pinus laeta Salisb.
    • Pinus larix L.

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,[3] with ages of around 2000 years likely.[4]

Description

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Larix decidua is a medium-size to large deciduous coniferous tree reaching 25–45 m tall, with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter (exceptionally, to 53.8 m tall[5] and 11.20 m girth [3.56 m diameter][6]). 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 10–50 cm long) and bearing several buds, and short shoots only 1–2 mm long with only a single bud. The leaves are needle-like, light green, 2–4 cm long which turn bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pale yellow-buff shoots bare until the next spring.

The cones are erect, ovoid-conic, 2–6 cm 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 seeds 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 -50 °C, and is among the tree line trees in the Alps, reaching 2400 m altitude, though most abundant from 1000–2000 m. It only grows on well-drained soils, avoiding waterlogged ground and is not shade tolerant.

It is closely related to Siberian larch 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.[7]

Subtaxa

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The following varieties are accepted by Plants of the World Online:[2]

  • Larix decidua var. decidua – European larch or Alpine larch. Most of the range, except as below. Cones 2.5–6 cm; shoots yellow-buff.
  • Larix decidua var. carpatica Domin – Carpathian larch. In the Carpathian Mountains. Differs little from nominate var. decidua.
  • 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 sub-oceanic climate, is widely treated at the higher rank of subspecies rather than variety, Larix decidua subsp. polonica (Racib. ex Wóycicki) Domin.[8][9][10][7] The Russian botanist Evgenij Bobrov considered it to be an ancient natural hybrid between European larch and Siberian larch L. sibirica,[11] but this has been shown to be incorrect, with it derived from only L. decidua.[12]

Ecology

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A siskin eating a European larch seed

The seeds are an important food for some birds, notably 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 caterpillars of the case-bearer moth 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

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European larch morphology features from book: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885, Gera, Germany.

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.[13] John Evelyn encouraged its wider planting and use.[14] Three successive Dukes of Atholl planted it widely[15] and the fourth Duke wrote "Observations on Larch" in 1807 further encouraged its cultivation, which he practiced on a large scale.[16] One of the larches planted by the second Duke of Atholl at Dunkeld in 1737 is still standing,[17] as are two slightly older specimens planted in 1725 at Kailzie, near Peebles in southern Scotland.[18][19]

European larch is now widely naturalised in northern Europe, including Britain,[20] Scandinavia, and in Germany north of its native range. It is also widely cultivated in southern Canada and the northeastern United States, and is naturalised in Maine, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island. In the northern Appalachian Mountains it is often used for the reforestation of surface mines.[21] European larch can grow on drier soils and tolerate warmer climates than tamarack (Larix laricina) or Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), being better suited to non-boreal climates.[22]

Hybrids

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European larch readily hybridises with Japanese larch 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.[13][23] It is faster-growing than either parent, and more resistant to larch canker Lachnellula willkommii.[13][24] Hybrids with several other larches have been made, but are rare;[8][13] the hybrid with Larix laricina has also been named, as Larix × pendula (Solander) Salisbury.[13]

Bonsai

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The European larch is a popular bonsai species, with many unique specimens available in European circles, and is popularly used in bonsai forest groups.[25]

Invasive species

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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

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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',[13][26] must be free of knots, and can only be obtained from old trees that were pruned when young to remove side branches. Small larch poles are widely used for rustic fencing.

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.[27]

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  • Larix decidua subsp. decidua at Aletschwald, Switzerland
    Larix decidua subsp. decidua at Aletschwald, Switzerland
  • Larix decidua subsp. polonica at Gajówka, Kraków, Poland
    Larix decidua subsp. polonica at Gajówka, Kraków, Poland
  • In winter, without leaves, Guarda, Graubünden, Switzerland
    In winter, without leaves, Guarda, Graubünden, Switzerland
  • Larch in Albeck, district Feldkirchen, Carinthia, Austria
    Larch in Albeck, district Feldkirchen, Carinthia, Austria
  • South Tyrol, Wengen-La Val-La Valle
    South Tyrol, Wengen-La Val-La Valle
  • Parc régional du Queyras, Embrun, Hautes-Alpes, France
    Parc régional du Queyras, Embrun, Hautes-Alpes, France
  • Autumnal forest with larches, spruces and arolla pines at Seebachern
    Autumnal forest with larches, spruces and arolla pines at Seebachern
  • Bark, with a wound from a broken branch.
    Bark, with a wound from a broken branch.
  • European larch foliage and cones.
    European larch foliage and cones.
  • Developing seed cone in detail.
    Developing seed cone in detail.
  • Young seed cones (red) and pollen cones (yellow).
    Young seed cones (red) and pollen cones (yellow).
  • Young female cone
    Young female cone
  • Male cones
    Male cones
  • European larch planted for erosion control on a scree slope in Canterbury, New Zealand.
    European larch planted for erosion control on a scree slope in Canterbury, New Zealand.

References

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  1. ^ Farjon, A. (2017). "Larix decidua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T42309A83969267. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42309A83969267.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Larix decidua Mill". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Larix decidua - The Gymnosperm Database". www.conifers.org. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  4. ^ "European Larch 'Santa Gertrude 1' in a forest, Val d'Ultimo, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy". Monumental trees. 2001-07-15. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  5. ^ "European Larch close to Richthof, Schlitz, Hesse, Germany". Monumental trees. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  6. ^ "European Larch close to the cheese farm in Prairion, Vallese, Switzerland". Monumental trees. 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  7. ^ a b Rushforth, Keith (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. p. 777–785. ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  8. ^ a b Vidaković, Mirko (1991). Conifers (English ed.). Croatia: Grafički Zavod Hrvatske. pp. 255–281.
  9. ^ "Larix decidua". Euro+Med Plantbase. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  10. ^ Litkowiec, Monika; Lewandowski, Andrzej; Burczyk, Jarosław (2018-12-20). "Genetic status of Polish larch (Larix decidua subsp. polonica (Racib. Domin)) from Chełmowa Mountain: implications for gene conservation". Dendrobiology. 80: 101–111. doi:10.12657/denbio.080.010. ISSN 1641-1307.
  11. ^ Bobrov, E. G. (1972). "Synopsis Specierum Generis Larix Mill". Novitates Systematicae Plantarum Vascularum. 9: 4–15.
  12. ^ Lewandowski, A. (1997). "Genetic relationships between European and Siberian larch, Larix spp. (Pinaceae), studied by allozymes. Is the Polish larch a hybrid between these two species?". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 204 (1/2). Springer: 65–73. ISSN 0378-2697. JSTOR 23642926. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, Alan (1972). "Conifers in the British Isles: a descriptive handbook" (PDF). pp. 130–134. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  14. ^ The Gardener's Dictionary, Vol.1, Philip Miller, 1835
  15. ^ A History of British Forest-trees: Indigenous and Introduced, Prideaux John Selby, 1842
  16. ^ The Philosophical Magazine and Journal, Vol. 53, 1819
  17. ^ "European Larch Dunkeld Cathedral, Dunkeld, Scotland, United Kingdom". Monumental trees. 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  18. ^ "European Larch in the garden of Kailzie, Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom (1)". Monumental trees. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  19. ^ "European Larch in the garden of Kailzie, Peebles, Scotland, United Kingdom (2)". Monumental trees. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  20. ^ "European Larch Larix decidua". PlantAtlas. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  21. ^ "Larix decidua". US Forest Service. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  22. ^ Perry, Leonard. "Larches Large and Small". University of Vermont Extension. Archived from the original on 4 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  23. ^ "Hybrid Larch Larix × marschlinsii". PlantAtlas. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  24. ^ "The advantages of hybrid over European and Japanese larch" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  25. ^ D'Cruz, Mark. "Ma-Ke Bonsai Care Guide for Larix decidua". Ma-Ke Bonsai. Archived from the original on 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  26. ^ King, Joshua (2017-07-24). "Deeside timber firm teams up with north-east boat festival for unique restoration project". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  27. ^ Matras, Jan; Pâques, Luc E. (2008). European Larch, Larix decidua (PDF). Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
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