Larch identification

[blackheaddog]

I am trying to identify local larches whether larix decidua or larix kaempferi or hybrids between the two. I have read that the european larch can have either red or green cones depending on altitude and temperature. I don't know whether this applies to the Japanese larch. Can anyone shed any light on this or any other aspect of ID?

[peatff]

Monty Python can help. Sorry.

[ame]

[/ame]

[slack ma girdle]

European larch scruffy, and level branches

Japanese larch more even form, with up swept branches

Hybrid larch somewhere in between.

[SWB58]

What type of Larch did the forestry commission plant? I think they've cut them all down round here and left them where they fell. A real shame.

Edited January 30, 2017 by SWB58

[Macpherson]

Hi, I was taught that the scales of the cones of European larch are tightly grouped at their tips whereas with the jap larch the scales curl outwards or flare slightly at the tip, this of course may be of no help with hybrids. cheers.

[blackheaddog]

That's what I have learned about them, but they never look as cut and dried as that! Maybe the scales curl out very slightly but not very much etc……on some trees the twigs seem purple (as per Japanese larch) and straw coloured (as in European larch), but on others an in-between! These trees are in unmanaged private woodland so may have hybridised freely over the years…..