Softwoods

Several species of softwood populate the Polset valley. They are best identified by looking at their needles: If they are long and in ascicles of five then it is a cembro pine. If they are grouped into ascicles of 30 to 50 pale green needles and soft to the touch, then you are looking at a larch tree. The Scots pine has needles grouped into ascicles of two and an orange trunk at the top, or salmon-pink some would say. The silver fir has dark-green needles with two small white grooves on the underside which resemble ski tracks.