western larch (seedling)

Scientific Name:

Larix occidentalis

Pronunciation:

LAIR-icks ock-sih-den-TAY-liss

Common Name:

western larch (seedling)

Family Name:

Pinaceae

Plant Type:

Conifer, Tree - deciduous

Key ID Features:

Needles in tufts of 15-30 on spur twigs and singly along current year's growth on short shoots, linear 2-5cm x 0.65-0.80mm long x 0.4-0.6mm wide, midrib keeled; seed cones oval when closed, ovoid when open, 2-3 x 1.3-1.6cm, on curved stalks 2.5-4.5 x 3.5-5mm; scales 45-55, margins entire, pubescent; bracts tipped by awn to 3mm, exceeding scales by about 4mm; seeds reddish brown, 3mm long, wing 6mm long; seedlings with 6 cotyledons. Winter ID: branches horizontal, occasionally drooping in lower crown of open-grown trees; buds dark brown, generally finely pubescent, scale margins irregularly toothed. Conifers.org

Habit:

Upright

Form:

Pyramidal - widely

Texture:

Fine

Mature Height:

> 30m

Mature Spread:

7 - 10m

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Origin:

B.C. east of Cascades, U.S. - northwest

Hardiness Rating:

Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)

Exposure:

Full sun, Filtered shade

Soil/Growing Medium:

Well-drained

Landscape Uses:

Forestry

Additional Info:

Google

Leaf Morphology:

Glossary

Form:

Needle-like

Arrangement:

Fascicles

Texture/Venation:

Soft flexible

Surfaces:

Glabrous

Colour in Fall:

Yellow

Shapes:

Acicular

Apices:

Acute

Bases:

Truncate

Margins:

Entire

Additional Info:

Spectacular fall colour, 2.5-4.5cm; soft, flexible, spirally arranged. Appear in two different ways on two kinds of twigs: At ends of branches, twigs elongate and bear single lvs. distinctly separated from each other; farther back on branches, twigs do not elongate, lvs. crowded together, appear to be in clusters of 15-30.