steffibond's Identifications

This species is definitely from the larch family, possibly being an Alaskan Larch, also known as Tamarack (Larix laricina). The branches were brownish-red in color with ridges that ran vertically, giving a "cracked" appearance. There were small seed-bearing cones (both new and old) that were along the branch as well. The needles were just starting to bud from the tree, growing in clusters of many individuals per spur shoot.

The older individuals were brownish-gray colored with small brown spots growing all over them; the younger ones were red in color and smooth. On the trees that were present, there were both male catkins (small, white oval structures that resembled the top of a Q-tip) and female catkins (oblong, green caterpillar-shaped with red on the tips of hair-like structures).