Larch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larch
Larix decidua in autumn
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Larix Miller

Larches are a special type of tree called conifers. They belong to the genus Larix. You can find them growing in the northern parts of the world. What makes larches different from many other conifers (like pine trees) is that they lose their needles (which are like leaves) in the autumn and winter. This means they aren't green all year round!

Types of Larch Trees

These are the male "flowers" or strobili of the European larch.

There are about 10 to 14 different kinds of larch trees. Some well-known ones include the European Larch, the North American Larch, and the Japanese Larch.

Scientists often group these species into two main categories based on where they grow:

• New World species: These are found in North America.
• Old World species: These grow in Europe and Asia.

Within the Old World group, there are two more smaller groups:

• Northern species: Found in places like Central Europe, Siberia, Japan, and northern China.
• Southern species: Found in southern China, the Himalayas, and Myanmar.

Old World Larches

Here are some examples of larch species from Europe and Asia:

• Larix decidua (also called Larix europaea): This is the European Larch.
• Larix sibirica: Known as the Siberian Larch.
• Larix kaempferi (or Larix leptolepis): This is the Japanese Larch.
• Larix potaminii: An example of a Chinese Larch.
• Larix griffithii (or Larix griffithiana): This is the Himalayan Larch.

New World Larches

These larch species grow in North America:

• Larix laricina: Often called Tamarack Larch or American Larch.
• Larix lyallii: Known as the Subalpine Larch.
• Larix occidentalis: This is the Western Larch.

There's also a special kind of larch called the Dunkeld Larch. It's a hybrid tree, which means it's a mix of two different species: the European Larch and the Japanese Larch.

How Larches Are Used

Larch wood is very useful and valuable. It's strong and lasts a long time, plus the trees grow quite fast. Because it's so tough, larch wood is often used to build things like boats and houses.

Besides building, larches have other uses too:

• They are sometimes used in herbal medicine.
• They can be grown as bonsai trees, which are small, carefully shaped trees.

You might also know larches from the funny Monty Python comedy sketches, where they were often mentioned as a joke!

Gallery

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  Siberian larch

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  Male (above) and female (below right) cones of Japanese Larch emerging in spring

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  European Larch foliage and cones

Images for kids

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  Larch forest in the North Cascades

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  Range map of Larix laricina

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  Siberian larches

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  European larch in the Italian Alps

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  Larix laricina in autumn (Vermont)

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  Larix occidentalis (Navaho Ridge, Washington state, USA)

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  Subalpine larch male fall foliage and cone (strobilus)

See also

In Spanish: Alerces para niños