Sub-alpine larch, Alpine larch, Timberline larch
Larix lyallii
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows to 12 m high and is 50 cm across the trunk. The bark is thin, smooth and yellowish-grey when young. It is thicker and in irregular reddish scaly plates when old. The branches are irregularly spaced and thick near the trunk. The leaves are stiff and 4 sided in cross section. They are 4-5 cm long and pale bluish-green. There are 30-40 leaves per tuft. The mature cones are oval and 4-5 cm long. They are purplish-brown. They stand out from the twigs in all directions. The scales are hairy and curve toward the base of the cone. The seeds are 3 mm long.
There are 10 to 14 Larix species.
Where it is found
In Canada it grows between 1200 and 2200 m altitude. It grows up to the tree line. It grows on acidic gravely soils. It suits hardiness zones 2-8.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Seed crops are infrequent. Trees live for several hundred years.