Practical
Plants

Larix occidentalis

Western Larch

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Larix genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Genus
Larix
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
45 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A gum, or resin, is produced under the bark. It is a gum arabic substitute, very soluble in water, and is used as a thickening agent, stabilizer, emulsifier and for chewing[6][9]. It exudes from the trunk and branches but commercially it is usually obtained by extraction from wood chips as a by-product of the lumber industry[3][4]. The sap can be harvested in the spring and, when concentrated by boiling off much of the water, is made into a sweet syrup[6][11]. A source of an edible manna[6]. No further details are given, but this report probably refers to the gum mentioned above[K].

Product or use
Gum
Product or use
Sweetener
Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna
Plant part
Sap

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The gum obtained from under the bark is used as a dressing in the treatment of cuts and bruises[11]. An infusion of the bark has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds and tuberculosis[11]. A decoction has been used as a wash on wounds and sores[11]. The sap has been chewed in the treatment of a sore throat[11]. The leaves and stems are antirheumatic, antiseptic, appetizer and blood purifier[11]. A decoction has been used both internally and externally in the treatment of cancer, and is said to help an emaciated patient get better and gain weight[11]. A decoction of the stem tips has been taken internally and also used as a soak on arthritic limbs and as a wash for cuts and sores[11].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Blood purifier
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red powder can be made by heating the resin and then grinding it. This powder was mixed with fat and used as a cosmetic, or mixed with balsam poplar buds (Populus spp.) and used as a paint[9][11]. The bark contains tannin[10]. Wood - hard, strong, very heavy, very durable in the soil[16][9]. The tree produces long straight knotless trunks and is a very important commercial crop in its native range[9]. It is used for posts, cabinet making, construction, plywood etc[12][14][5]. A very good fuel[13].

Product or use
Cosmetic
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Paint
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Western N. America - British Columbia to Montana, south to Washington and Oregon.
Habitat
Mountain valleys and lower slopes, often in swampy areas, usually in mixed stands[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination[2]. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year[15]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots. Although only a few centimetres tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer providing you give them an effective weed-excluding mulch and preferably some winter protection for their first year. Otherwise grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in early summer of the following year. The seed remains viable for 3 years[2] If you are growing larger quantities of plants, you can sow the seed in an outdoor seedbed in late winter. Grow on the seedlings in the seedbed for a couple of years until they are ready to go into their permanent positions then plant them out during the winter.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[8]. Plants are intolerant of badly drained soils, but they tolerate acid and infertile soils[8]. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes[8]. A north or east aspect is more suitable than west or south[1]. This is a very cold-hardy species when fully dormant, but on the whole the trees are a disappointment in Britain. They are often excited into premature growth in this country by periods of mild weather in the winter and are then subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds. They also often suffer from canker and die-back[7]. Good trees, however, can be very good and fast growing, often putting on new annual growth of 1 metre when young[7]. Older trees develop a very thick bark, which protects them from forest fires[9]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[8]. Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots[8]. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring[8]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  3. Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x

    ↩

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  16. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

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