Larch Branch Postcard

Features a digital rendering of a Larch branch. There are a few cones and the some of the needles have begun to assume the typical golden color of Autumn. Choose a background color. Larches are deciduous (they loose their needles in the fall) conifers related to pines. They are common in the cooler temperate northern hemisphere. Larch are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada. The needles turn a wonderful gold color before falling, the trees are leafless through the winter. There are three species in North America: 1. The Tamarack, or American Larch (Larix laricina), found in part of Alaska and throughout Canada and the northern United States from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic shore. 2. The Subalpine Larch (Larix lyallii) Found at high altitudes in the mountains of the US Pacific Northwest and southwest Canada. 3. The Western Larch (Larix occidentalis), found at lower altitudes of the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and southwest Canada. Larch wood is valued for its tough, waterproof, and durable qualities. Larches are said to grows six times quicker than oaks and top quality knot-free timber is in great demand for building yachts and other small boats, for exterior cladding of buildings, and interior paneling. The wood is resistant to rot when in contact with the ground, and is suitable for use as posts and in fencing. Turpentine is collected from full-grown trees from May to October, holes being bored in the trunk and wooden tubes inserted. The exudation that flows is perfectly clear and needs no further preparation than straining through a coarse hair-cloth to free it from impurities. It was used in medicine and for making several kinds of varnish. In commerce it is known as 'Venice Turpentine,' being formerly exclusively exported from Venice. The Scottish sport of caber tossing typically uses a larch tree about 19 feet long and weighing about 175 pounds (79.3 kg). Arabinogalactan is a starch-like chemical that is found in many plants, but it is found in highest concentrations in Larch trees. Larch arabinogalactan is used for medicine. Most of the larch arabinogalactan you will find in stores is produced from Western Larch. Larch arabinogalactan is used for infections, including the common cold, flu, H1N1 (swine) flu, ear infections in children, and HIV/AIDS. It is also used to treat liver cancer, as well as a brain condition caused by liver damage (hepatic encephalopathy). Some people use it to provide dietary fiber, lower cholesterol, and to boost the immune system. In foods, Larch arabinogalactan is used as a stabilizer, binder, and sweetener.