subalpine larch Pinaceae Larix lyallii

Leaf:Deciduous, linear, 1 to 1 1/4 inches long, somewhat square in cross section; borne singly on current year's twigs, but clustered on spur shoots on older twigs; light green to blue-green, yellow in the fall.
Flower:Species is monoecious; male cones are round to oblong and yellow to yellow-green in color; female cones are small, erect, and bright red when young.
Fruit:Small (1 1/2 to 2 inches long), egg-shaped cones with thin, woody scales that are hairy at tips; bracts have spines that are longer than the cone scales (similar to Douglas-fir, but smaller); initially reddish purple but changing to dark brown.
Twig:Twigs are pale, yellowish brown and covered by fine hairs; buds small and fuzzy; spur shoots numerous.
Bark:Young bark is thin, scaly, and light gray-brown, later becoming darker reddish brown and breaking up into small, scaly patches or plates; stays rather thin.
Form:A small deciduous conifer growing 30 to 50 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet in diameter, usually a straight bole with twisted, sparse limbs; at highest elevations near tree line they may be twisted and misshapen.

leaf flower fruit twig bark form map

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