Twigs: Moderately stout, yellowish, with numerous conspicuous leaf scars or, when older, with short lateral spurs.
Leaves: Needles borne many in clusters from short spurs, or borne singly on new branchlets, soft, yellow-green, up to about one inch long, somewhat triangular, falling from the tree in the autumn.
Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same tree, appearing as the new leaves begin to appear, the staminate in nearly round, yellow heads, the pistillate in oblong, bright red “cones.”
Fruit: Cones oblong, upright, up to 1¼ inches long, containing numerous small, winged seeds.
Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, orange-brown.
Use: This tree is sometimes planted as an ornamental.
Habitat: Around homes where it has persisted from cultivation.
Range: Native of Europe; infrequently escaped from cultivation in northeastern North America.
Distinguishing Features: The European Larch differs from the American Larch by its slightly longer cones, its yellow-green needles, and its yellower twigs.
