Larix laricina, commonly known as the tamarack, hackmatack,<!-- The population is isolated. The distribution is disjunct.-->

Description

Larix laricina is a small to medium-size boreal deciduous conifer tree common to low-land areas such as swamps, fens, and bogs, reaching tall, with a trunk up to in diameter. The bark of mature trees is reddish, the young trees are gray with smooth bark. The leaves are needle-like, long, and light blue-green, produced on long woody spur shoots

The central Alaskan population, separated from the eastern Yukon populations by a gap of about , is treated as a distinct variety Larix laricina var. alaskensis by some botanists, though others argue that it is not sufficiently distinct to be distinguished. Rust is the only common foliage disease amongst Tamaracks, and causes minimal damage to the trees. Tamarack is commonly used for bonsai.

Tamarack poles were used in corduroy roads because of their resistance to rot. Tamarack posts were used before 1917 in Alberta to mark the northeast corner of sections surveyed within townships. They were used by the surveyors because at that time the very rot-resistant wood was readily available in the bush and was light to carry. Their rot resistance was also why they were often used in early water distribution systems.

The aboriginal peoples of Canada's northwest regions used the inner bark as a poultice to treat cuts, infected wounds, frostbite, boils and hemorrhoids. The outer bark and roots are also said to have been used with another plant as a treatment for arthritis, cold and general aches and pains.

Wildlife use the tree for food and nesting. Porcupines eat the inner bark, snowshoe hares feeds on tamarack seedlings, and red squirrels eat the seeds. Birds that frequent tamaracks during the summer include the white-throated sparrow, song sparrow, veery, common yellowthroat, and Nashville warbler. The word akemantak meaning "wood used for snowshoes" has been cited as a name for the species, but the Proto-Algonquian *a·kema·xkwa this appears to represent was the name for the white ash.

See also

  • Larch ball

References

  • https://srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/larix/laricina.htm
  • Larix laricina images at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Plant Image Database
  • Enzenbacher, Tiffany. "Plant Collecting in the Wisconsin Wilds". Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University website, 30 August 2017. Accessed 12 May 2020.
  • Earl J. S. Rook, Boundary Waters Compendium, Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky, The Natural History of the Northwoods, Trees of the Northwoods, Larix laricina