ALPINE LARCH
Larix lyallii

• Subalpine Larch, Tamarack, or Lyall Larch (after David Lyall a Scottish naturalist)

UNIQUE FEATURES:

• often dwarfed or contorted, and smaller and more ragged than the Western Larch
• has a dense, cottony hair that covers the young twigs and buds and turns black after several years
• like all larches it has deciduous foliage (needles) but drops them in the fall like leaves
• known for its spectacular showing of spring and autumn colours

LOCATION:

• found in mountainous areas in the southeastern and southern parts of the province
• can grow in very cold areas with only rocky or gravelly soils, so it's often found near the treeline

SIZE:

• grows to about 15 metres in height

CONES:

• the seed cones are small and egg-shaped and reddish-yellow to purple when young. The pollen cones are yellow in colour

NEEDLES:

• grow in clusters of 30 to 40, and are sparse, 4 sided, and bluish-green; turning gold in the fall

BARK:

• thin, deeply grooved, with reddish to purplish-brown scales that flake

USES:

• the young twigs can be made into a soup for emergency survival