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Herbs & Plants

Pseudolarix amabilis

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Botanical Name :Pseudolarix amabilis
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pseudolarix
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class:
Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Synonyms :  P. fortunei. Mayr. P. kaempferi. Gord.

Common Name :Golden Larch

Habotat : It is native to eastern China, occurring in small areas in the mountains of southern Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei and eastern Sichuan, 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, the Japanese Larch.

Description :
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.
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It is hardy to zone 6. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind.

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 winged seeds. The male cones, as in Keteleeria, are produced in umbels of several together in one bud.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.The plant prefers acid soils. and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.It requires moist soil.

Cultivation :
Best grown in a warm sheltered site on a deep fertile soil with a pH between 5 and 6 and an annual rainfall of around 1000mm. Plants dislike dry winds and soils that dry out readily.  Slow-growing. A difficult tree to grow well in cool temperate regions, if planted out when small it is easily scorched and can be killed by temperatures of -5°c. In Britain good trees are only found in the southern part of the country. Plants prefer a continental climate with hot summers – they are then much hardier and tolerate cold winters. Best planted out when 30 – 80cm tall, it needs to be kept weed free until established and might require winter protection for its first few years. There are several named forms, selected for their ornamental value.

Propagation:
Seed – sow late winter in a cold greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Medicinal uses:
Golden Larch is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Chinese herbology, where it is called j?n qián s?ng .The stem bark is used in the treatment of ringworm. The bark shows fungicidal activity against the parasitic Epidermophyton and Trichphyton fungi that cause ringworm.

Other 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. In Europe growth is most successful in the Mediterranean region with notable specimens in northern Italy; further north in Britain it will grow, but only very slowly due to the cooler summers there.

The wood is used for furniture, boat building, and bridges.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudolarix
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pseudolarix+amabilis
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/images/low/A166-1014030.jpg

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