Larix sibirica

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Larix sibirica
Siberian larch in Montreal Botanic Gardens

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Larix
Species:
L. sibirica
Binomial name
Larix sibirica
Synonyms
List[2]
    • Larix altaica Fisch. ex Gordon & Glend.
    • Larix archangelica C.Lawson
    • Larix europaea Middend.
    • Larix pseudolarix Lodd. ex Gordon & Glend.
    • Larix sibirica var. hybrida Y.N.Lee
    • Larix sibirica var. viridis R.E.Schroed.
    • Larix sibirica var. viridis Y.N.Lee
    • Larix sukaczewii Dylis
    • Pinus pseudolarix Steud.

Larix sibirica, the Siberian larch or Russian larch, is a frost-hardy tree native to western

Dahurian larch L. gmelinii of eastern Siberia; the hybrid is known as Larix × czekanowskii
.

Description

It is a medium-size to large

European larch by the shoots being downy (hairless in European larch). The leaves
are needle-like, light green, 2–5 cm long, and turn bright yellow before they fall in the autumn, leaving the pale yellow-buff shoots bare until the next spring.

The male and female cones are borne separately on the same tree; pollination is in early spring. The male cones are solitary, yellow, globose to oblong, 4–8 mm diameter, and produce wingless pollen. The mature female cones are erect, ovoid-conic, 2–5 cm long, with 30-70 erect or slightly incurved (not reflexed) and downy seed scales; they are green variably flushed red when immature, turning brown and opening to release the winged seeds when mature, 4–6 months after pollination. The old cones commonly remain on the tree for many years, turning dull grey-black. The minimum seed-bearing age is 10–15 years.

Uses

Because of its rot resistance, larch wood is especially valuable for posts, poles,

mine props
.

It is also used in many velodromes around the world as the track surface including the Manchester Velodrome[3] and the Velodrome Krylatskoye in Moscow.[4]

It is grown in Canada and the northern United States to a limited extent, first cultivated there in 1806. It was also introduced to Iceland and Greenland.

It is faster-growing than many other coniferous trees in cold regions, but requires full sunlight. When grown in plantations it should be kept widely spaced, and intensive thinning is required.

Resin of siberian larch (as well as of

siberian cedar) is used as a natural chewing gum, which is commercially produced by several manufacturers in Russia.[5]

See also List of Lepidoptera that feed on larches

Larix sibirica cone scales are used as food by the

tortrix moth Cydia illutana
.

Gallery

  • Young female cone
    Young female cone
  • Female cone (left), male cone (right)
    Female cone (left), male cone (right)
  • Short shoots after bud break
    Short shoots after bud break
  • Crowns of Siberian larch in winter
    Crowns of Siberian larch in winter

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42317A2971987.en
    . Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Larix sibirica Ledeb". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  3. britishcycling.org.uk. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2008-02-28. [dead link
    ]
  4. ^ "UCI World Cup Classics" (PDF). UCI. Retrieved 2008-02-28. [dead link]
  5. ^ Wild Siberian Larch Resin Natural Chewing Gum

External links

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