description
Hamamelis virginiana is a small, deciduous tree of the Hamamelidaceae family.
Commonly called witch hazel, this tree reaches heights of 20 feet (6 m).
The tree has one root which sprouts several crooked branching trunks. Each trunk is 4 to 6 inches in diameter,
10 to 12 feet in height and have smooth grey bark. The bark that is sold is usually done in quilled pieces;
approximately 1/16 inch thick and 2 to 8 inches long; are silvery grey, scaly cork; longitudinally striated; fracture
fibrous and laminated; taste and odor slight. The twigs are flexible and rough their external color being
yellowish-brown to purple; their interior wood color being green-white, pith small.
The tree's leaves are 3 to 5 inches in length and about 3 inches wide. The oval or obovate leaves grow on short
petioles, alternate, acuminate, obliquely subcordate at the
base. The leaves' margin crenate and dentate. Its texture scabrous, and features raised spots underneath; it is
pinnately veined and has stellate (radiating star-like pattern) hairs. In autumn, he leaves drop off, at which time
yellow flowers appear in clusters from the joints, somewhere during very late September and in October. The leaves have no scent (inodorous),
but have an astringent and bitter aromatic taste.
These flowers are followed by black nuts which contain edible, oily, white seeds. In Britain, the nut does not bear seeds.
They are produced abundantly however in America, but often do not ripen till the
following summer.
common names & nomenclature
The name Hamamelis was adopted from a Greek word that indicated its similarity in appearance
to an apple-tree. When ripe, the seeds are ejected violently, hence the common name
snapping hazelnut.
Also known as:
common witch hazel, american witch hazel, spotted alder, winterbloom, snapping hazelnut
