Larix decidua

'Larix decidua'' Mill. -- European larch'''

group: 	SOFTWOODS

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: heartwood

description: narrow sapwood (1–3 cm), yellowish; heartwood reddish brown to reddish violet

rings: distinct boundary between rings; very abrupt transition from early wood to late wood in ring

resin canals: slightly distinguishable, visible in R and T

rays: invisible

texture: strikingly flatsawn (T) and radial figure (R); very decorative wood

other: become darker in the air

Microscopic structure of wood

brief overview: 	RC; ray HetC, medium high; paired bordered pits

ring: 	very abrupt transition from early wood to late wood tracheids in ring	P

bordered pits on tracheids: 	very often paired in early wood tracheids	R

tracheid thickenings: 	absent	R, T

resin canals: 	small, predominantly solitary	X, T

epithelial cells: 	thick-walled epithelial cell, smaller (8–12)	X, T

rays: 	heterocellular	R

width of rays	uniseriate and fusiform	T, (P)

height of rays: 	medium high, 10–15 (25)	T

cross field pitting: 	piceoid (2–4–6)	R

ray tracheid: 	one or more rows along the upper and lower margins of the ray, smooth-walled ray tracheid	R

axial parenchyma: 	absent or rare	X, (R, T)

other: 	Crassulas (Sanio's beams) between bordered pits

Wood properties

density: 	moderate heavy

ρ 0: 	560 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	590 kg/m3

ρ green: 	800 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	medium

- volumetric (βV): 	13,2 %

- radial (βR): 	3,8 %

- tangential (βT): 	9,1 %

mechanical properties: 	strong and elastic

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	55 MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	95 MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	107 MPa

hardness: 	moderate hard

Janka's hardness: 	43,5 MPa

technological properties: 	no problem with drying, working an finishing; uneasy chemical preservation of heartwood

resistance: 	rated as resistant to decay

Wood utilization

One of the highest quality European softwoods; timber, water and boat building, constructional wood, furniture (garden furniture), windows, doors, floors, inside and outside joinery facings, chemical industry

References