Family Hamamelidaceae-Witch Hazel

Order: Rosales

Liquidambar styraciflua		Hamamelis virginiana

Pictures taken by Dr. Gary Carr, professor at the University of Hawaii. To learn more about Sweetgum and Witch Hazel, click on the corresponding picture above.

Genus/Species Identification Guide

• Genus: Bucklandia
  This tree is native from the Himalaya to Java, and is known for the giant stipules which encirle a young auxiliary bud in order to protect. Flowers are found in groups of 4 in the head, sunk in the axis with the calayx showing like a ring. For this tree to grow, it needs sandy loam, peat, and leaf mould, and can be grown in greenhouse conditions

• Species: Populnea
  This tree usually grows up to 100 ft; leaves are pale green; ovate-cordate, on long stalks; stipules large, standing erect face to face

• Genus: Corylopisis
  Identified as both small trees and shrubs of deciduous nature. Located in northeast Asia, these plants have a habit of spreading. The leaves are parallel vein, bristle-toothed, alternate, and uniform. Flowers can be seen in a soft yellow. The flowers are produced in drooping spikes of leafless shoots with large bracks at the base. There are 5 petals and stamens, with woody fruits that have two spreading, recurved beaks. Needs light, loamy soil to grow.

• Species: Glabrescens
  Can be found as a shrub or small tree that grows up to 18 ft. The leaves are roundish, cordate, ovate, abruptly short pointed, 2-4 in. long and 1-3 in. wide; flowers located on pendant spikes, 1-1.5 in. long, and 3/8 in. wide; this is the hardiest species.
• Species: Gotoana
  synonym for Glabrescens
• Species:Griffithii
  Shrub or small tree with closed shoots; leaves are chordate, ovate, 3-5 in. long, 1.5-4 in. wide, pointed, toothed; flowers on spikes 1.5-2 in. long; the species is half hardy
• Species: Himalayana
  synonym for Griffithii
• Species: Pauciflora
  A shrub that grows to 4-6 ft. with slender shoots; leaves are 1.5-3 in. long, ovate, chordate, bristle-toothed, pointed; flowers have 2 or 3 spikes 5/8 in. wide, and are known for their wide expansion; this is a tender species
• Species: Platypetala
  A shrub that grows 6-9 ft. with glandular shoots; leaves are 2-4 in. long, oval, abruptly pointed, and bristle-toothed; flowers are in spikes 2-3 in. long.
• Species: Sinensis
  Can be a shrub or a small tree that grows up to 15 ft.; leaves are obovate, 2-4 in. long, and chordate; flowers have 1-2 in. long spikes
• Species: Spicata
  Shrub that can grow up to 6 ft.; leaves 2-4 in. long and wide, chordate and bristle-toothed; stalk and veins are wooly; flowers have spikes 1.5 in. long
• Species: Veitchiana
  A shrub that grows up to 5-6 ft. with reddish shoots; leaves 3-4 in. long and 2 in. wide, reddish purple, oval and pointed; flowers are in spikes 1-1.5 in. long
• Species: Willmottiae
  A shrub that grows 6-12 ft. with slender shoots; leaves are ovate, roundish, 1.5-3.5 in. long, short, pointed, and hairy underneath; flowers are in spikes 2-3 in. long
• Species: Wilsonii
  Can be a shrub or small tree with downy shoots; leaves are chordate, ovate, 3-5 in. long, 1.5-3 in. wide, slender, pointed, and bristle-toothed; flowers are in spikes 2-3 in. long, bracks are densely silky on both sides.
• Species: Yunnanensis
  Can be a shrub or small tree that grows up to 20 ft. with purplish shoots; leaves are 1.5-3 in. long, roundish, ovate, short, pointed, and minutely toothed; flowers are in spikes 1-1.5 in. long.

• Genus: Disanthus
  A shrub that is long-stalked, alternate leafed, deciduous, and has small stipules. Flowers have 5-parted calayx, 5 petals and stamens, and one ovary. The fruit is a capsule, two-lobed at apex, with black seeds. It needs peaty soil to grow

• Species: Cercidifolia
  A shrub that grows to 15 ft. with slender shoots and pale lenticels; leaves are roundish, ovate, 2-4 in. across, and bluish-green; flowers are dark purple, 3/4 in. across, and hairy; during the fall, leaves become red

• Genus: Distylium
  Can be found as shrub or tree, and is evergreen. This species has flowers in slender racemes, and has 2-8 stamens. The fruit is a one-seeded capsule. Leaves are alternate, leathery, and ovate. It is native to China, Japan, and northern India. It likes to grow in sandy soil.

• Species: Racemosum
  An evergreen shrub that grows up to 4 ft. with smooth shoots; leaves are elliptic and obovate, 1.5-3 in. long; flowers 3/4 in. long with red anthers and stellately downy racemes

• Genus: Fortunearia
  Leaves have very branched veins and unequal teeth. Flowers have slim, small petals, and stamens have short filaments

• Species: Sinensis
  A deciduous shrub that grows up to 25ft.; leaves are obovate, shortly pointed, 3-6 in. long and half as wide; flowers are green, 1/6 in. wide, have racemes which are male or bisexual; fruit is a woody two-valved capsule; very hardy
• Species: Fothergilla
  Deciduous shrubs that are native to the southeastern USA; leaves are alternate, stalked, and coarsely toother; flowers don't have any petals or basal bracts
• Species: Alnifolia
  A synonym for Gardeni.
• Species: Gardeni
  A shrub that can grow up to 3 ft. with slender shoots that white hairs. Leaves are oval 1 to 2.5 in long and unequally toothed. Flowers have spikes 1.5 in long, and 1 in wide.
• Species: Major
  A shrub that can grow up to 8 ft., with erect shoots. Leaves are roundish-oval, 2 to 4 in long. Flowers are in cylidrical spikes, 1 to 2 in long.
• Species: Monticola
  Similar to F. major. Leaves slightly redder in fall, and growth of the plant more spreading in nature.

• Genus: Hamamelis
  Shrubs or small trees that are native to N. America and E. Asia. They are deciduous, shortstalked, toothed, leaves with large stipules. Flowers have 4 Sepals and petals. Seeds are shot over a long distance when ripe. Except for the H. virginiana, they are very resistant to cold, flower before the leaves which are yellow. All species are hardy and grow best in a moist loam.
• Species: Arborea.
  A variety of H. japonica
• Species: Incarnata
  A synonym for H. japonica rubra.
• Species:Virginiana
  Can be either a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 15 ft. Leaves are obovate, 3 to 6 in long, and smooth. Flowers are in short stalked clusters bright yellow and 2/3 in long. Native to Eastern N. America.
• Species:Japonica
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Mollis
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species: Vernalis
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Liquidambar
  These deciduous trees are native to N. America, Asia minor and China. They have flowers without petals. Leaves have three to seven lobes. Fruit has a dehiscent capsule with1 or 2 winged seeds. They grow the best in moist loam.
• Species: Formosana
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Imberbis
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:orintalis
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Styraciflua
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Loropetalum
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Chinense
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Parrotia
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Jacquemontiana
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Persica
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Rhodoleia
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Championii
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Forrestii
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Sinowilsonia
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Henryi
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Syconopsis
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Sinensis
  (Chittenden, 1951)

• Genus:Trichocladus
  (Chittenden, 1951)
• Species:Crinitus
  (Chittenden, 1951)

References

Everett, Thomas H.. The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture. Garland Publishing Inc.. New York and London. 1981. vol. 5, pp. 1587-1589. vol. 6, pp. 2035-2037.