western larch

The western larch (Larix occidentalis) is an important timber tree native to western North America. It is a coniferous tree that, unlike most conifers, sheds its needle-like leaves in the autumn. These leaves are arranged spirally on new growth and in whorls on older twigs, with 10 to 30 needles per cluster. The western larch is a taller species, and its cones have bracts that extend beyond the scales. The wood of the western larch is coarse-grained, strong, hard, and heavy, making it suitable for uses such as ship construction, telephone poles, mine timbers, and railroad ties.12