another ID confirmation sought

Discussion in 'Gymnosperms (incl. Conifers)' started by davidrt28, Nov 29, 2022.

  1. davidrt28

    davidrt28 Member

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    This was sold as a Larix kaempferi, but suspect it could have some hybrid traits.
    The paper is 5 lines to an inch, not the more common (in the US) 4 X 4. I can't find my caliper at the moment but I could get an exact measure of it later, if that would help.
     

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  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Looks Japanese
     
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  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Probably Japanese, but Hybrid is possible. Can you soak the cone in water, and take another pic when it has closed up, please? And include a centimetre scale, please, '5 lines to an inch' is totally meaningless!
     
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  5. davidrt28

    davidrt28 Member

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    Michael - fat chance finding centimetre ruled paper in the US! I can probably find a centimetre ruler...
     
  6. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    @Michael F, be nice. One inch is 2.54 cm, so the paper has five lines to roughly 2.5 cm, or the lines make each square side 5 mm.
     
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  7. davidrt28

    davidrt28 Member

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    Alrighty, I soaked the cone in water for over 2 days, I think it's done whatever it's going to do.
    I found my digital calipers and set them to Michael F's preferred millimeters. Not counting the little stub leftover from the stalk, it is 34 X 26 mm.
     

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  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Excellent, thanks! I'm going to come down on the side of Dunkeld Larch (the hybrid between European and Japanese Larches), the cone is taller than normal for pure Japanese; that has cones that are still ± globose when closed. In Britain at least, hybrids (including back-crosses with both parents!) are a lot commoner than pure Japanese; for a safe comparison of guaranteed Japanese Larch, I've found a photo from Japan where it is native, here.
     
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  9. davidrt28

    davidrt28 Member

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    Thanks Michael/Pineresin. Please pardon the banal Americanism, but you da man. What I hope this tree to be is a backcross of Dunkeld with a Japanese. General observations about it...compared to my other survivor larch*, it colors a bit later in autumn, and is yellower, whereas the other is more orange. The habit is very sparse but it was sheltered for many years by a huge branch of a maple; it's focusing on upright growth, it seems, since that was removed. The whole maple will be removed in 2-3 more years once I'm sure this can shade rhododendrons like the one in the picture. This picture shows the larch, my huge Metasequoia 'Ogon', and one of my 2 Abies firma. They look really close together but they are actually about 20' apart from each other. The 'Ogon' was planted as a 0.7m whip in spring 2010, probably grafted the prior winter, and is now 15m.

    * tried at least 12 Dunkelds and Japanese over the years, and most died of rot root or just, "something". The other one hasn't coned yet.
     

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    Last edited: Dec 9, 2022
  10. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    A bit late : I have a dozen Larix x eurolepis (syn : Larix x marschlinsii) that I train as bonsai.

    March 2015. Male (hanging down) and female (upright) flowers.

    larix-flores_150327c.jpg larix-flores_150327b.jpg mlz9403_150326a.jpg

    Mature cones (Oct.2015)

    mlz9403_151010b.jpg

    Oct. 30th, 2021 :

    mlz9403_211030b.jpg

    They don't flower every year...
     
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  11. davidrt28

    davidrt28 Member

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    Thanks Alain, that takes an impressive amount of work. As a rare plant collector it's hard enough for me keep my plants alive when they aren't in a pot with soil volume of 1000ccs!
     
  12. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Thanks! That (being a backcross) sounds eminently plausible!
     

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