Hamamelis virginiana L.

Clarissa Huynh

Common Names:

Common witch-hazel
Spotted alder
Winterbloom
Snapping hazelnut




Higher Taxon:
              
Class: Magnoliopsida
                Subclass: Hamamelidae
                  Order: Hamamelidales
                  Family: Hamamelidaceae
                  Subfamily: Hamameliddoideae
                     Genus: Hamamelis
                     (Mabberley, 262)



More Taxonomy



Identification:
	Hamamelis virginiana is a small tree with pubescent to glabrate twigs.
The leaves are: ovate, elliptic, or obovate that is about 15cm long and 10cm
wide; they are densely pubescent when young and glabrate when mature. In 
addition, the leaves are acute and coarsely lobed or toothed with oblique
base and the petioles about 5-15 mm long.  Inflorescences usually in capitate 
clusters of three flowers one or more short penduncles per leaf axil.  Moreover,
the flowers are bisexual or unisexual, small, actinomorphic or zygomorphic.
The flowers are either perfect or imperfect and regular; and they are either
epigynous or hypogynous.  The calyx tube is cupulate and 2-10cm long.  The lobes
are ovate and in four.  Their petals are red or yellow and come in four that
measures about 4-16cm long linearly.  The stamens are also in four and about 
1mm long with 10-15cm long oblong styles with curved beak.  The seeds are black
or brown and oblong to about 6.5-8mm long. The seeds are windblown to germinate. 
Their fruits are loculicidal capsules and often have a hard exocarp and 
endocarp.(Radford, 529)Further Details



Geography:
	Present in these areas:  North America, E. Asia, E. North America,
        Southeastern U.S., S. Appalachian States, Coastal Plain, Piedmont,
        BlueRidge Mtns, Ridge and Valley, Cumberland Plateau, Central Arch, 
        Georgia, Clarke Co., and Samís Farms old fields and woods. Reference