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June 12, 2006 : Larix speciosa
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Keywords: Pinaceae | Larix speciosa W.C. Cheng & Y.W. Law | 36696.05-0677-2001 | DGEY.206
I'm out of town for a couple more days, so please excuse the abbreviated entry.
Yunnan larch, as its name implies, is native to the Yunnan province of China, as well as neighbouring Burma (Myanmar). You can read a taxonomic description of Larix speciosa from the Flora of China.
Larches are the reason why it is more correct to call the group of plants including pines, spruces, fir, and cedars conifers instead of evergreens – larches are all deciduous, losing their needles in the autumn (and hence not evergreen). The genus Larix is also unique amongst conifers for having fall colouration, since the leaves turn yellow before falling (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!).
Conservation resource link: The Bombay Natural History Society is “the largest non-government organisation (NGO) in the Indian sub-continent engaged in nature conservation research”.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at June 12, 2006 12:00 AM
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Posted by: Michael F at June 12, 2006 7:20 AM
On Larix speciosa, the Kew Conifer Checklist treats this as a variety of L. griffithii, though I think the Flora of China is better in its treatment, as on cone structure (as well as geographically) it appears closer to L. potaninii than to L. griffithii.
Posted by: Michael F at June 12, 2006 7:23 AM
Above genera also being deciduous would make them reasons for not saying "evergreens" as well.
Posted by: Ron B at June 12, 2006 7:42 AM
i love this plant!!! how do i get one?
Posted by: james at June 12, 2006 4:57 PM
"i love this plant!!! how do i get one?"
Probably not available anywhere (this is the first I'd ever heard of it being in cultivation outside of China). But other Larix species from the Himalaya like L. griffithii and L. potaninii are very similar in appearance, and should be a little easier to find (tho' still difficult!). For an even easier species to get, try Larix occidentalis (Western Larch, native to southeastern BC)
Posted by: Michael F at June 13, 2006 2:24 PM
I agree with Michael F. (finally - all excellent, relevant comments this time around), Larix occidentalis is a wonderful tree. I purchased one from a native plant nursery in Washington State that has a wonderful ruddy brown bark that looks great against the bamboo behind it.
I'm not certain if it is L. occidentalis or L. lyallii, but when one drives through Snoqualmie Pass at the right time in the autumn, the display is quite spectacular. The scattered golden spikes of the Larches contrasted against the various evergreen conifers makes it a little difficult to keep ones eyes on Interstate 90.
To comment on the photograph, what a fantastic display of color in an unexpected place. The yellow, green, purple, and orange all combine to provide a fantastic color scape of a sort that I did not previously associate with the inflorescence of a conifer. Thanks for the photograph.
Posted by: Denis at June 12, 2008 6:56 AM
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"The genus Larix is also unique amongst conifers for having fall colouration, since the leaves turn yellow before falling (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)"
Pseudolarix, Metasequoia, Taxodium are all quite good, too! - Yellow in the first, oranges and rufous browns in the other two