Larix Decidua

Larix decidua ssp. carpatica

Common Name:

larita de Carpati, zada, crin, cadrin, and the oak of the mountains

Scientific Name:

Larix decidua ssp. carpatica

Categories:

Timber

Range OF Larix Decidua

Why is this species important?

It has been used to make furniture, suports and in naval construction. It is the only native larch in Romania and is a distinct subspecies with cones that are smaller and have a more concave, rounded scale than L. decidua.

Where is it found?

Larix deciduas ssp. carpatica is found in Romania in the Ceahlau, Ciucas, Bucegi, Lotru, Trascau and Gilau Mountains. It grows in clusters or as individuals at high altitude on low nutrient, rocky ground. The stands often include spruce, pine, fir, and beech. The species is protected in the Nature reserve "polita cu crini" (370 ha) inside the Ceahlau National Park; in Vidolm Nature reserve (4,420 ha), in Alba County; and in Bucegi National Park

Why is it threatened?

The primary threat is from over-harvesting for timber.

What conservation action is being carried out?

The embriogenesis of the species from the Bucegi National Park has been studied at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Bucharest. It is also protected under national laws (237/1950, 137/1995 and 5/2000) from picking and uprooting, and local government agencies are aware that the plant is in protected areas.

There are ex situ collections of this species in various botanic gardens and arboreta in Romania, but the seeds are not yet stored in a seed bank.