Texture Browser

Botanical Name

Larix decidua Mill., Larix decidua communis Henk&Hochst., Larix europaea DC., Larix europaea communis Laws., Larix excelsa Link., Larix folio deciduo Mill., Abies larix communis Engl., Familie: Pinaceae

Trade Names

Lärche, Gemeine Lärche, Larice, European larch, Melèze d´Europe

Substitution

As solid wood for Columbian Pine and Scotch Pine (inclusively Pitch Pine); as veneer the fine-grained qualities of the Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria).

Indigenous to

The tree is found throughout Central Europe, especially in the Alps, the Carpathians and in Poland.

Characteristics

The sapwood and the heartwood are clearly separated. The sapwood is narrow and bright tawny. When freshly cut the heartwood is reddish brown, but turns darker. The wood is resinous. The texture is fine and straight grained. European larch has good mechanical characteristics and is the most durable European softwood. Pitch streaks are easily visible.