laricina

Laricina is the species epithet in the scientific name of the tamarack, Larix laricina, a North American deciduous conifer commonly known as the tamarack or American larch. The epithet is used within binomial nomenclature to identify this specific species within the genus Larix.

Etymology: The form laricina comes from Latin larix "larch" with the feminine suffix -ina, producing an adjective meaning "of the larch" or "larch-related." In botanical naming, such epithets indicate a relationship to a plant group or a characteristic associated with it.

Description and range: Larix laricina occurs across boreal forests of Canada and the northern United States, from Newfoundland to Alaska and southward along the Great Lakes region. It is a medium-sized deciduous conifer, typically 10 to 20 meters tall, with soft, slender needles in clusters and small cones. The species is adapted to cold climates and, unlike most conifers, drops its needles in autumn.

Other uses and notes: The term laricina is primarily encountered as a taxonomic epithet. It is not commonly used as a standalone word in general English, though it appears in botanical names and in discussions of larch-related biology. Historical or corporate uses may exist but are unrelated to its taxonomic meaning.