- Pseudolarix
Taxobox
name = "Pseudolarix"
fossil_range = Fossil range|49|0 Early Eocene to recent
image_width = 240px
status = DD
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Pinaceae
genus = "Pseudolarix"
genus_authority = Gordon
species = "P. amabilis"
binomial = "Pseudolarix amabilis"
binomial_authority = (Nelson) Rehder"Pseudolarix" is a monotypic genus in the family
Pinaceae . The sole species, "Pseudolarix amabilis" is commonly known as Golden Larch, though it is not a truelarch ("Larix"), being more closely related to "Keteleeria ", "Abies" and "Cedrus". It is native to easternChina , occurring in small areas in the mountains of southernAnhui ,Zhejiang ,Fujian ,Jiangxi ,Hunan ,Hubei and easternSichuan , at altitudes of 100-1500 m. Golden Larch is sometimes known under an old scientific name "Pseudolarix kaempferi", but this may cause confusion with "Larix kaempferi", theJapanese Larch .It is a
deciduous tree reaching 30-40 m tall, with a broad conic crown. The shoots are dimorphic, with long shoots and short shoots similar to a larch, though the short shoots are not so markedly short, lengthening about 5 mm annually. The leaves are bright green, 3-6 cm long and 2-3 mm broad, with two glaucous stomatal bands on the underside; they turn a brilliant golden yellow before falling in the autumn, whence the common name. The leaves are arranged spirally, widely spaced on long shoots, and in a dense whorl on the short shoots.The cones are distinctive, superficially resembling a small
globe artichoke , 4-7 cm long and 4-6 cm broad, with pointed triangular scales; they mature about 7 months after pollination, when (like fir and cedar cones) they disintegrate to release the wingedseed s. The male cones, as in "Keteleeria", are produced in umbels of several together in one bud.Uses
Golden Larch is a very attractive ornamental tree for parks and large gardens. Unlike the larches, it is very tolerant of summer heat and humidity, growing very successfully in the southeastern
United States where most larches and firs do not succeed. InEurope growth is most successful in theMediterranean region with notable specimens in northernItaly ; further north in Britain it will grow, but only very slowly due to the cooler summers there.Medicinal use
Golden Larch is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in
Chinese herbology , where it is called "jīn qián sōng" ().ee also
*Chinese herbology 50 fundamental herbs
References and external links
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as data deficient
* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/PIcones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - photos of cones]
* [http://www.conifers.org/pi/pl/amabilis.htm Gymnosperm Database]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=210001826 "Pseudolarix" in the "Flora of China"]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.