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Larch Tamarack

Latin Name: Larix laricina

French Name: Larch Tamarack

English Name: Eastern Larch, Tamarack

Botanical Family Name: Pinaceae

Origin: Quebec, Canada

Harvest time: July to September

Distilled Parts: Twigs and needles

Origin

The tamarack or American larch is also called a ‘red spruce’ in the vernacular of our French ancestors. Because the different resinous trees were misunderstood, they were all grouped with the same name. Today we know that these trees are part of the Pinaceae family and not the Epiceae family, like black or white spruce. The peculiarity of this native tree is that it is the only Canadian conifer to lose its needles at the end of autumn. But before losing its needles, they will change from green to a flamboyant golden yellow. Thus, adding to the many vibrant autumnal colours of our beautiful Canadian forests.

The larch is found all over Canada. The terrain conducive to its development is moist, light and well-drained soils, but it does not tolerate much shade, which would explain its presence in sphagnum peat bogs. Under ideal conditions, it can reach up to 22 meters in height after twenty years of growth. It grows three times faster than a fir or spruce tree.

Its bark is grey when it is young and turns into small reddish brown scales over time. The larch’s cones are less than 2 cm long and can stick to the tree for a year. During flowering, the flowers of the male cones are yellow and those of the female cones are pink. Its needles are supple and soft to the touch. They are light green and measure 2 to 5 cm in length. They grow back every spring in groups of 30 to 40 per cluster.

Its hard and heavy wood is resistant to moisture and makes it an excellent choice for outdoor use. It is used to make patios, shingles, stilts, boats, and canoe skins, as well as studs, poles and railroad ties. In the past, barn floors were made with this essential wood, because its durability allowed it to resist the hooves and urine of horses!

The larch is the official emblem tree for the Northwest Territories.

History

Several Amerindian tribes made a decoction of larch needles along with the cambium to help with colds, fever and the flu. Young branches were infused for their laxative power. A poultice made from the inside of the bark plus its leaves, dried up draining wounds and stopped hemorrhaging. This tree possessed many benefits including those of helping in cases of rheumatism, tuberculosis, anemia and even gonorrhea.

References