42-449: Larix laricina , commonly known as the tamarack , hackmatack , eastern larch , black larch , red larch , or American larch , is a species of larch native to Canada , from eastern Yukon and Inuvik , Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland , and also south into the upper northeastern United States from Minnesota to Cranesville Swamp , West Virginia ; there is also an isolated population in central Alaska . Larix laricina
84-491: A coarse grainy surface texture. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in gardens in cold regions. Several dwarf cultivars have been created that are available commercially. Tamarack is commonly used for bonsai . Tamarack poles were used in corduroy roads because of their resistance to rot. Tamarack posts were used before 1917 in Alberta to mark the northeast corner of sections surveyed within townships. They were used by
126-890: A cool and fairly humid climate and for this reason they are found in the mountains of the temperate zones, while in the northernmost boreal zones they are also found in the plain. Larch trees go further north than all, reaching in North America and Siberia the tundra and polar ice. The larches are pioneer species not very demanding towards the soil and they are very long-lived trees. They live in pure or mixed forests together with other conifers or more rarely with broad-leaved trees. L. potaninii Batalin L. occidentalis Nuttall L. decidua Miller L. cajanderi Mayr L. griffithii Hooker L. gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. L. kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière L. laricina (Du Roi) Koch L. lyallii Parlatore L. sibirica Ledeb. In
168-478: A palisade, built beyond the range of missiles. So the townspeople were frightened into surrendering, and were then asked where that wood came from which was not harmed by fire. They pointed to trees of the kind under discussion, of which there are very great numbers in that vicinity. And so, as that stronghold was called Larignum, the wood was called larch. The tallest species, Larix occidentalis , can reach 50 to 60 m (165 to 195 ft). The larch's tree crown
210-486: A single bud. The leaves (light green) are needle-like, 2 to 5 cm ( 3 ⁄ 4 to 2 in) long, slender (under 1 cm or 1 ⁄ 2 in wide). Larches are among the few deciduous conifers, which are usually evergreen. Other deciduous conifers include the golden larch Pseudolarix amabilis , the dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides , the Chinese swamp cypress Glyptostrobus pensilis and
252-448: A treatment for arthritis , cold and general aches and pains. Wildlife use the tree for food and nesting. Porcupines eat the inner bark, snowshoe hares feeds on tamarack seedlings, and red squirrels eat the seeds. Birds that frequent tamaracks during the summer include the white-throated sparrow, song sparrow, veery, common yellowthroat, and Nashville warbler. Tamarack is very intolerant of shade. Although it can tolerate some shade during
294-519: A vast number of shrubs associated with Tamarack due to their range, some of the common ones are dwarf and swamp birch ( Betula glandulosa and Betula pumila ), willows ( Salix spp.), speckled alder ( Alnus rugosa ), and red-osier dogwood ( Cornus stolonifera ) bog Labrador tea ( Ledum groenlandicum ), bog-rosemary ( Andromeda glaucophylla ), leather leaf ( Chamaedaphne calyculata ), blueberries and huckleberries ( Vaccinium spp.) and small cranberry ( Vaccinium oxycoccos ). Characteristically
336-402: Is a small to medium-size boreal deciduous conifer tree reaching 15–23 m (49–75 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 60 cm (24 in) diameter. The bark of mature trees is reddish, the young trees are gray with smooth bark. The leaves are needle-like, 2.5 cm (1 in) long, light blue-green, turning bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the shoots bare until
378-414: Is almost exclusive guest of the gen. Larix . Other diseases are given by mushrooms, fungal rusts, bacteria and insects. Larch wood is valued for its tough, waterproof and durable qualities. Top quality knot -free timber is in great demand for building yachts and other small boats , for exterior cladding of buildings, and interior paneling. The timber is somewhat resistant to rot when in contact with
420-456: Is another probable hybrid still unresolved. Larches are associated with a number of mycorrhizal fungal species, including some species which primarily or only associate with larch. One of the most prominent of these species is the larch bolete Suillus grevillei . Larch is used as a food plant by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species. Larches are prone to the fungal canker disease Lachnellula ssp. (larch canker); this
462-432: Is not abundant on the limestone areas of eastern Ontario . Tamarack is generally the first forest tree to grow on filled-lake bogs. In the lake states, tamarack may appear first in the sedge mat, sphagnum moss, or not until the bog shrub stage. Farther north, it is the pioneer tree in the bog shrub stage. Tamarack is fairly well adapted to reproduce successfully on burns, so it is one of the common pioneers on sites in
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#1732776464276504-488: Is particularly a problem on sites prone to late spring frosts, which cause minor injuries to the tree allowing entry to the fungal spores. In Canada , this disease was first detected in 1980 and is particularly harmful to an indigenous species larch, the tamarack , killing both young and mature trees. Larches are also vulnerable to Phytophthora ramorum . In late 2009 the disease was first found in Japanese larch trees in
546-480: Is particularly harmful to the tamarack larch, killing both young and mature trees. Rust is the only common foliage disease amongst Tamaracks, and causes minimal damage to the trees. The needle-cast fungus (Hypodermella laricis) is also a cause for concern in Tamaracks. Tamarack forms extensive pure stands in the boreal region of Canada and in northern Minnesota . In the rest of its United States range and in
588-404: Is sparse and the branches are brought horizontal to the stem, even if some species have them characteristically pendulous . Larch shoots are dimorphic, with leaves borne singly on long shoots typically 10 to 50 cm (4 to 20 in) long and bearing several buds , and in dense clusters of 20–50 needles on short shoots only 1–2 mm ( 1 ⁄ 32 – 3 ⁄ 32 in) long with only
630-581: The Arctic tree line at the edge of the tundra . Trees in these severe climatic conditions are smaller than farther south, often only 3 m (10 ft) tall. They can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions but grow most commonly in swamps , bogs , or muskegs , in wet to moist organic soils such as sphagnum , peat , and woody peat. They are also found on mineral soils that range from heavy clay to coarse sand; thus texture does not seem to be limiting. Although tamarack can grow well on calcareous soils, it
672-653: The English counties of Devon , Cornwall and Somerset , and has since spread to the south-west of Scotland. In August 2010 the disease was found in Japanese larch trees in counties Waterford and Tipperary in Ireland and in 2013 in the Afan Forest Park in south Wales . Laricifomes officinalis is another mushroom found in Europe , North America and northern Asia that causes internal wood rot. It
714-473: The Maritime Provinces , tamarack is found locally in both pure and mixed stands. Black spruce ( Picea mariana ) is usually tamarack's main associate in mixed stands on all sites. Other commonly associated overgrowth species include balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ), white spruce ( Picea glauca ), and quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) in the boreal region. In the better organic soil sites in
756-499: The larch casebearer , however recently the outbreaks of larch casebearer have been less severe. There are some other insects that can harm Tamaracks, including spruce budworm ( Choristoneura fumiferana ); the larch-bud moth ( Zeiraphera improbana ); the spruce spider mite ( Oligonychus ununguis ); the larch-shoot moth ( Argyresthia laricella ); and the eastern larch beetle ( Dendroctonus simplex ). Healthy trees are left mostly unaffected by eastern larch beetles. Defoliation by
798-471: The ancient settlement of Larignum. The story of its naming was preserved by Vitruvius : It is worth while to know how this wood was discovered. The divine Caesar, being with his army in the neighbourhood of the Alps, and having ordered the towns to furnish supplies, the inhabitants of a fortified stronghold there, called Larignum, trusting in the natural strength of their defences, refused to obey his command. So
840-428: The bald cypresses in the genus Taxodium . The male flowers (small cones) are orange-yellowish and fall after pollination. The female flowers (or cones ) of larches are erect, small, 1–9 cm ( 1 ⁄ 2 – 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) long, green or purple, brown in ripening and lignify (called now strobilus ) 5–8 months after pollination; in about half the species the bract scales are long and visible, and in
882-800: The boreal forest immediately after a fire. The central Alaskan population, separated from the eastern Yukon populations by a gap of about 700 kilometres (430 mi), is treated as a distinct variety Larix laricina var. alaskensis by some botanists, though others argue that it is not sufficiently distinct to be distinguished. Tamaracks are easily susceptible to fires, as they have shallow roots and thin bark. The tamarack's shallow root system also leaves it susceptible to being knocked over by high-speed winds. It has also been discovered that abnormally high water levels often kill tamarack stands. Flooding, mainly caused by beaver dams and newly constructed roads, can kill off stands and damage adventitious roots. Tamaracks are targeted by many species of insects. One of
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#1732776464276924-470: The cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, where they are found in lowland forests in the high latitudes, and high in mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the boreal forests of Siberia and Canada . Although they are conifers , larches are deciduous trees that lose their needles in the autumn. The English name larch ultimately derives from the Latin "larigna", named after
966-572: The first several years, it must become dominant to survive. When mixed with other species, it must be in the over story. The tree is a good self-pruner, and boles of 25- to 30-year-old trees may be clear for one-half or two-thirds their length. Because tamarack is very shade-intolerant, it does not become established in its own shade. Consequently, the more tolerant black spruce eventually succeeds tamarack on poor bog sites, whereas northern white-cedar, balsam fir, and swamp hardwoods succeed tamarack on good swamp sites. Recurring sawfly outbreaks throughout
1008-438: The general ordered his forces to the assault. In front of the gate of this stronghold there was a tower, made of beams of this wood laid in alternating directions at right angles to each other, like a funeral pyre, and built high, so that they could drive off an attacking party by throwing stakes and stones from the top. When it was observed that they had no other missiles than stakes, and that these could not be hurled very far from
1050-466: The genus, with a primary division into North American and Eurasian species, and a secondary division of the Eurasian into northern short-bracted species and southern long-bracted species; there is some dispute over the position of Larix sibirica , a short-bracted species which is placed in the short-bracted group by some of the studies and the long-bracted group by others. The genus Larix belongs to
1092-529: The ground, and historically was used as posts and in fencing. However, European Standard EN 350-2 lists larch as slightly to moderately durable; this would make it unsuitable for ground contact use without preservative in temperate climates, and would give it a limited life as external cladding without coatings. The hybrid Dunkeld larch is widely grown as a timber crop in Northern Europe , valued for its fast growth and disease resistance. Larch on oak
1134-499: The herbaceous cover includes sedges (Carex spp.), cottongrass (Eriophorum spp.), three-leaved false Solomonseal ( Maianthemum trifolium ), marsh cinquefoil ( Potentilla palustris ), marsh-marigold ( Caltha palustris ), and bogbean ( Menyanthes trifoliata ). The wood is tough and durable, but also flexible in thin strips, and was used by the Algonquian people for making snowshoes and other products where toughness
1176-602: The larch casebearer makes infestation of the eastern larch beetle more likely. Only one of the many pathogens that affect Tamarack causing diseases serious enough to have an economic impact on its culture, is the Lachnellula willkommii fungus. It is a relatively new pathogen in Canada, first recorded in 1980 and originating in Europe. The fungus causes the formation of large cankers and a disease known as larch canker which
1218-423: The most prominent damaging insects is larch sawfly , which is non-native. It causes damage across its range and causes defoliation which can kill the trees within 6 to 9 years. To lessen the problem, parasites have been imported to kill the larch sawflies in parts of Minnesota and Manitoba. Another serious defoliator is the larch casebearer ( Coleophora laricella ) . All tamaracks are susceptible to being killed by
1260-486: The next spring. The needles are produced in clusters on long woody spur shoots. The cones are the smallest of any larch, only 1–2.3 cm ( 3 ⁄ 8 – 7 ⁄ 8 in) long, with 12-25 seed scales; they are bright red, turning brown and opening to release the seeds when mature, 4 to 6 months after pollination . Key characteristics: Tamaracks are very cold tolerant, able to survive temperatures down to at least −62 °C (−80 °F), and commonly occurs at
1302-541: The northern forest region, the most common associates are the northern white-cedar ( Thuja occidentalis ), balsam fir, black ash ( Fraxinus nigra ), and red maple ( Acer rubrum ). In Alaska , quaking aspen and tamarack are almost never found together. Additional common associates are American elm ( Ulmus americana ), balsam poplar ( Populus balsamifera ), jack pine ( Pinus banksiana ), paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ), Kenai birch ( B. papyrifera var. kenaica ), and yellow birch ( B. alleghaniensis ). There are
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1344-422: The open, and the seedlings require practically full light to survive and grow well. Tamarack is also usually wind-firm enough for the seed-tree system to succeed. Satisfactory reestablishment of tamarack, however, often requires some kind of site preparation, such as slash disposal and herbicide spraying. The names tamarack and hackmatack appear to derive from Algonquian but have undergone contamination with
1386-525: The others, short and hidden between the seed scales. Those native to northern regions have small cones ( 1–3 cm or 1 ⁄ 2 –1 in) with short bracts, with more southerly species tending to have longer cones ( 3–9 cm or 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 – 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 in), often with exserted bracts, with the longest cones and bracts produced by the southernmost species, in the Himalayas. The seeds are winged. The larches are streamlined trees,
1428-441: The past, the cone bract length was often used to divide the larches into two sections (sect. Larix with short bracts, and sect. Multiserialis with long bracts), but genetic evidence does not support this division, pointing instead to a genetic divide between Old World and New World species, with the cone and bract size being merely adaptations to climatic conditions. More recent genetic studies have proposed three groups within
1470-460: The range of tamarack have probably sped the usual succession to black spruce or other associates. Various tests on planting and natural reproduction indicate that competing vegetation hinders tamarack establishment. The shade-intolerance of tamarack dictates the use of even-aged management. Some adaptation of clear cutting or seed-tree cutting is generally considered the best silvicultural system because tamarack seeds apparently germinate better in
1512-591: The root system is broad and deep and the bark is finely cracked and wrinkled in irregular plaques. The wood is bicolor, with salmon pink heartwood and yellowish white sapwood. The chromosome number is 2n = 24, similar to that of most of the other trees of the family Pinaceae . The genus Larix is present in all the temperate-cold zones of the northern hemisphere , from North America to northern Siberia passing through Europe , mountainous China and Japan . The larches are important forest trees of Russia , Central Europe , United States and Canada . They require
1554-667: The subfamily Laricoideae , which also includes the genera Pseudotsuga and Cathaya . There are ten accepted species of larch and one accepted hybrid, subdivided on the basis of the most recent phylogenetic investigations: Most if not all of the species can be hybridised in cultivation. Selected hybrids include: The hybrid Larix × marschlinsii , the Dunkeld larch, is an artificial hybrid L. decidua × L. sibirica that arose more or less simultaneously in Switzerland and Scotland. Larix × stenophylla Sukaczev
1596-448: The surveyors because at that time the very rot-resistant wood was readily available in the bush and was light to carry. Their rot resistance was also why they were often used in early water distribution systems. The aboriginal peoples of Canada's northwest regions used the inner bark as a poultice to treat cuts, infected wounds, frostbite , boils and hemorrhoids. The outer bark and roots are also said to have been used with another plant as
1638-505: The wall on account of the weight, orders were given to approach and to throw bundles of brushwood and lighted torches at this outwork. These the soldiers soon got together. The flames soon kindled the brushwood which lay about that wooden structure and, rising towards heaven, made everybody think that the whole pile had fallen. But when the fire had burned itself out and subsided, and the tower appeared to view entirely uninjured, Caesar in amazement gave orders that they should be surrounded with
1680-585: The word tacamahac , from Nahuatl , so the precise words that underlie them are unclear. The word akemantak meaning "wood used for snowshoes" has been cited as a name for the species, but the Proto-Algonquian *a·kema·xkwa this appears to represent was the name for the white ash . Larch About 10–11; see text Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus Larix , of the family Pinaceae (subfamily Laricoideae ). Growing from 20 to 45 metres (65 to 150 feet) tall, they are native to
1722-477: Was required. The natural crooks located in the stumps and roots are also preferred for creating knees in wooden boats. Currently, the wood is used principally for pulpwood , but also for posts, poles, rough lumber, and fuelwood; it is not a major commercial timber species. Tamarack wood is also used as kickboards in horse stables. Older log homes built in the 19th century sometimes incorporated tamarack along with other species like red or white oak. The hewn logs have
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1764-437: Was the traditional construction method for Scottish fishing boats in the 19th century. Larch has also been used in herbal medicine ; see Bach flower remedies and Arabinogalactan for details. Often, in Eurasian shamanism , the " world tree " is depicted as specifically a larch tree. Planted on borders with birch , both tree species were used in pagan cremations. Zeiraphera improbana Zeiraphera improbana ,
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