ETYM Cf. Old Eng. larege (Cotgrave), Italian larice, Spanish larice, alerce, German lärche; all from Latin larix, -icis, Greek larix.
1. Any of numerous conifers of the genus Larix all having deciduous needlelike leaves; SYN. larch tree.
2. Wood of a larch tree.
Any tree of the genus Larix, of the family Pinaceae. The common larch l. decidua grows to 40 m/130 ft. It is one of the few conifer trees to shed its leaves annually. The small needlelike leaves are replaced every year by new bright-green foliage, which later darkens.
Closely resembling it is the North American tamarack l. laricina, and both are timber trees. The golden larch Pseudolarix amabilis, a native of China, turns golden in autumn.
The American larch; also, the larch of Oregon and British Columbia (Larix occidentalis).
Coniferous tree Larix laricina, native to boggy soils in North America, where it is used for timber. It is a type of larch.