Larch (Fig. 259) is very like hard pine in appearance, qualities, and uses. For ship's "knees" (i. e., angular braces giving stiffness to the frame) the lower part of the tree as it curves naturally when growing in swamps has great advantages. Owing to its durability the trunk is valued also for telegraph-poles and railway-ties.

Fig. 259. European Larch (Larix decidua, Pine Family, Pinaceoe). 1, twig with long and short branches, and with a cone continuing as a branch at a. 2, twig with staminate and pistillate flowers. 3, staminate flower, 2/1. 4 6, stamens. 7, 8, 9, scales from young cone. 10, ripe cone. 11 13, seed bearing scales. 14, seeds, with and without wing. 15, short branch or

Fig. 259.-European Larch (Larix decidua, Pine Family, Pinaceoe). 1, twig with long and short branches, and with a cone continuing as a branch at a. 2, twig with staminate and pistillate flowers. 3, staminate flower, 2/1. 4-6, stamens. 7, 8, 9, scales from young cone. 10, ripe cone. 11-13, seed-bearing scales. 14, seeds, with and without wing. 15, short branch or "spur," cut vertically. 16, leaf, entire, and cut across. (Willkomm.)-Tree growing 30 m. tall; bark dark grayish-brown; leaves bright green; staminate flowers yellow; pistillate flowers purplish; fruit brownish. Native home, Europe.