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Subalpine Larch

The Larix Lyallii is commonly known as Alpine Larch, Lyall Larch, Lyall's Larch, Subalpine Larch, Tamarack, Timberline Larch, as well as Woolly Larch

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Growing Regions

Alpine larch occupies two mountain systems: the northern Rockies and northern Cascades [3,16]. It can be found on high mountains in southern British Columbia and Alberta, north-central Washington, north-central and east-central Idaho, and western Montana [1,13,23]. Alpine larch exhibits a highly discontinuous distribution, which is believed to be a remnant of a continuous range existing at a time when cooler, more extensive timberline habitat existed [1,3]. Typical alpine larch stands are often isolated pockets of open, parklike groves, less than 0.05 acre (0.2 ha) [3].

     

General Information

The currently accepted scientific name of alpine larch is Larix lyallii Parl [20]. There are no recognized subspecies, varieties, or forms of alpine larch. Hybridization with western larch (Larix occidentalis) results in a genetically different tree [2,6,7]. Although these hybrids occupy a similar geographic area, they inhabit different altitudinal zones, separated from each other by 500 to 1,000 feet (150-300 m) [2]. Differentiation between alpine larch and hybrids can be determined by analyzing the foliar terpenes and volatiles [7,15].

Alpine larch is a dominant species occupying the timberline habitat type
within the subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) series [23].  Principal
associates include whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), subalpine fir, and
Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) [3].  Major undergrowth species
include mountain-heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis), smooth woodrush
(Luzula hitchcockii), and grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium)
[3,9,23].  See successional status for more information.

Publications listing alpine larch as an indicator or dominant species in
habitat types (hts), community types (cts), or vegetation types (vts)
are listed below:

Area           Classification            Authority

  MT           forest  hts               Pfister & others 1977
n ID           general veg. cts          Cooper & others  1991
s AB           general veg. vts          Holland & others 1982

Much of the information presented here is attributed to:
Habeck, R. J. 1991. Larix lyallii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available at USDA Forest Service.

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