Larch

For other uses, see Larch (disambiguation).

Larch
Larix decidua in Aletschwald, Switzerland
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnosperms
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Subfamily:	Laricoideae
Genus:	Larix Mill.
Type species
Larix decidua Mill.
Species
About 10–14; see text

Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus Larix, of the pine family, Pinaceae. Growing to as much as 60 m (195 ft) tall, they are native to the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They grow in lowland forests in the far north, and high in mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the boreal forests of Siberia and Canada, making them the most abundant genus of trees on earth. Larch wood is tough and relatively durable; it is used in boatbuilding, cladding, decking, garden furniture, fencing, and construction. Products extracted from larch include arabinogalactan (larch gum), rosin, turpentine, and an essential oil.