Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii () description

Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii

(Mayr) Pilger 1926

Common names

华北落叶松 hua bei luo ye song (Fu et al. 1999).

Taxonomic notes

Synonymy (Farjon 1990, Fu et al. 1999):

Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr 1906;
Larix dahurica Turcz. ex Trautv. var. principis-rupprechtii (Mayr) Rehder et Wilson in Sargent, p.p.;
Larix wulingshanensis Liou et Q.L. Wang;
Larix.gmelinii f. pendula (D. S. Zhang et Y. M. Chen) L. K. Fu et Nan Li;
L. gmelinii var. wulingschanensis (Liou et Q. L. Wang) Kitagawa;
Larix principis-rupprechtii var. pendula D. S. Zhang et Y. M. Chen.

Description

Differs from the other varieties in the following characters (Farjon 1990, Fu et al. 1999):

large female cones (length × width 2-4 × 2-2.5 cm);
seed scales numerous (25-45), indehiscent or slightly dehiscent at maturity toward apical part of cone;
the first year's shoots are yellowish- or orange-brown and usually glabrous, but sometimes slightly brown pubescent;
first-year long branchlets stout, 1.4-2.5 mm in diameter; short branchlets 3-4 mm in diameter;

Distribution and Ecology

Korea and Russia (Amur Basin) (Zhang and Xu 1995, Vladimir Dinets e-mail, 2-Jan-1998) and China: Wutai Shan in N Shanxi (type loc.), NW Henan, and N to Weichang in Hebei, at elevations of 600 to 2800 m, usually on rocky slopes. Precipitation is 600-900 mm per year, and climate is moderate compared to the type variety. Grows in mixed stands with Abies nephrolepis, Picea asperata and P. neoveitchii below 2400 m, and on Wutai Shan it forms pure forests above this elevation (Farjon 1990, Fu et al. 1999). Hardy to Zone 4 (cold hardiness limit between -34.3°C and -28.9°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).

The conservation status of this variety has not been assessed by the IUCN, which assesses L. gmelinii as "Least Concern". In view of the wide distribution of var. principis-rupprechtii, if assessed under IUCN criteria it would likely be "Least Concern" as well.

Remarkable Specimens

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

Citations

Farjon, Aljos. 1990. Pinaceae: drawings and descriptions of the genera Abies, Cedrus, Pseudolarix, Keteleeria, Nothotsuga, Tsuga, Cathaya, Pseudotsuga, Larix and Picea. Königstein: Koeltz Scientific Books.

Zhang Jianwei and Xu Huacheng. 1995. Silvics of Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr. P.227-230 in Schmidt, W.C. and K.J. McDonald (compilers). Ecology and management of Larix forests: a look ahead; proceedings of an international symposium; Whitefish, Montana, U.S.A., October 5-9, 1992. Ogden, UT: U.S.D.A. Forest Service General Technical Report GTR-INT-319.