The Larch Genus (Larix Mill., Pinaceae) at Peter the Great Botanical Garden

Abstract

There are 148 trees of larches (Larix Mill.) cultivating at Peter the Great Botanic Garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (Saint-Petersburg, Russia) which belong to 16 species (22 taxa). They are long-lived trees, up to 200 years old, of large sizes. The larches represent the base of tree-stand of Arboretum and form the alleys at the oldest historical regular part of Botanic Garden. The largest trees reach 31,6 m high (L. dahurica) and 113 cm in trunk diameter (L. decidua and L. dahurica). The pride of collection being rare Far Eastern species – L. olgensis and related to it L. lubarskii and L. maritima. There are species promising both for repeated and primary introduction, the best prospects being in the flora of China and of adjacent countries of Eastern Asia. The continuous monitoring on winter hardiness as well as on steadiness to pests and diseases is necessary, which is especially true in conditions of the global warming of the climate. The investigation of reproductive abilities, quality of seeds and of seed generation is of importance. This is necessary to involve the best species and forms into city planting and forest economy.

Keywords

• Larix
• larch
• arboriculture
• Peter the Great Botanic Garden
• Saint-Petersburg