Larix gmelinii
| Larix gmelinii | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 1 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 98' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Larix gmelinii (common name: dahurian larch)
Propagation: Seed - sow late winter in pots in a cold frame. One months cold stratification helps germination[1]. It is best to give the seedlings light shade for the first year[2]. 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[1]
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: Prefers an open airy position in a light or gravelly well-drained soil[3]. Plants are intolerant of badly drained soils, but they tolerate acid and infertile soils[3]. Succeeds on rocky hill or mountain sides and slopes[3]. A north or east aspect is more suitable than west or south[4].
This species is very cold-hardy when fully dormant, but the trees can be excited into premature growth in Britain by mild spells during the winter and they are then very subject to damage by late frosts and cold winds[4].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3].
The plant is cultivated for re-afforestation in Asia and is also used as an ornamental[5].
Growth is normally slow in Britain with average height increases of less than 30cm per year[6].
Open ground plants, 1 year x 1 year are the best for planting out, do not use container grown plants with spiralled roots[3]. Plants transplant well, even when coming into growth in the spring[3].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3].
Range: Europe - Russia.
Habitat: Forms dense forests at high altitudes[7]. Hills, mountains, rocky slopes, peatlands, swamps, lowland sub-arctic plains, river basins and valleys 300 - 2800 metres[5].
Usage: Resin is extracted by tapping the trunk. It is obtained from near the centre of the trunk[8], one properly made borehole can be used for 20 - 30 years[9]. The resin has a wide range of uses including wood preservatives, medicinal etc. The hole is made in the spring and the resin extracted in the autumn[9]. The yield is about 40 grams per tree[9].
The bark contains tannin[10][11][5].
Wood - hard, durable. Used in construction, water pipes, mine props, beams etc[10][11][5].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Also Known As: L. dahurica.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Howes, Frank. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Chronica Botanica, 1949.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.