Western larch, a rare deciduous conifer, is an important species for healthy mid- to lower-elevation forests in eastern Washington State. Photo: Robert Van Pelt/DNR
As the Seattle Times reports today, western larch trees around Washington State are turning gold and dropping their needles. And that’s as it should be. What? A deciduous conifer (with needles instead of leaves)? That’s unusual. And it proves that not all conifers are ‘evergreen’ trees.
The western larch (Larix occidentalis) is a member of the Cupressaceae family, which includes cypress, arborvitae and giant sequoia, but it’s one of the few conifers anywhere with deciduous characteristics. Others are bald cyprus (found in the U.S. South), dawn redwood (the shortest of the redwoods and native to China) and Chinese swamp cypress.
Robert Van Pelt, a University of Washington researcher, says western larch seems to have made several adaptations to compete in an evergreen-dominated world. For example, it has one of the fastest seedling growth rates among trees in the area. This allows it to rise above neighboring trees that would otherwise block the light it needs to thrive. With its thick, fire resistant bark, Western larch is found in the central and south Cascades and into Montana. It’s also seen in southwestern Washington. These trees tend to live for 250 to 350 years, but examples of 500 to 800 years old are easily found, too, says Van Pelt.
Browse Robert Van Pelt’s two color guides to identifying old trees and forests in Washington.
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Tags: biodiversity, DNR, forest, Washington
