Tamarack (European Larch)

Larix laricina

Foliage Type:

needle

Arrangement:

false whorls (clusters)

Distinguishing features: leaves - deciduous, linear, 3/4" to 1 & 1/2" long, flexible leaves - 3-sided, bright blue-green, turning yellow and falling from trees in September to November leaves - dense false whorls (approximately 20 leaves) on lateral spurs cones - erect, 1/2" to 3/4" long, oblong to ovoid bark - thin and smooth on young trees, later becoming 1/2" to 3/4" thick, gray to reddish brown, scaly

Habitats:	mesic sites wet mesic sites wet sites
Often confused with:	should not be confused with other conifers
Ecological Value:	seeds, needles, and inner bark eaten by grouse, hare, squirrel, deer porcupine like inner bark, often killing the tree
Did You Know?	Tamarack Aldo Leopold wrote about the tamarack in his essay "Smoky Gold". Tamaracks lose all their needles in the fall. Baldcypress trees are the only other conifers that drop their needles at one time. reached maturity between 100 - 200 years old. The oldest trees have been found on Isle Royale, 335 years old.
Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:	favored choice for wigwam poles due to strength roots saved for weaving bags and sewing canoe edges contains tannins - useful for tanning leather timber used for poles, posts, and railroad ties bark tea used as laxative, tonic, diuretic for jaundice, rheumatism, and skin ailments. gargled for sore throats poulticed on sores, swellings, and burns leaf tea astringent; used for piles, diarrhea, dysentery, and dropsy poulticed for burns and headaches gum chewed for indigestion sawdust can cause dermatitis