Hamamelis

Hamamelis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae, commonly known as witch hazels. They are deciduous shrubs or (rarely) small trees growing to 3–8 m tall, rarely to 12 m tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, oval, 4–16 cm long and 3–11 cm broad, with a smooth or wavy margin. The horticultural name means "together with fruit"; its fruit, flowers, and next year's leaf buds all appear on the branch simultaneously, a rarity among trees.

Description

The Hamamelis plant is characterized by its unique flowering process. The flowers are generally produced in clusters, each flower with four slender strap-shaped petals 1–2 cm long, pale to dark yellow, orange, or red. The fruit is a two-part capsule 1 cm long, containing a single 5 mm glossy black seed in each of the two parts; the capsule splits explosively at maturity in the autumn about 8 months after flowering, ejecting the seeds with sufficient force to fly for distances of up to 10 m, thus another alternative name "Snapping Hazel".

Uses

The bark and leaves are astringent; the extract, also referred to as witch hazel, is used medicinally. Extracts from its bark and leaves are used in aftershave lotions and lotions for treating bruises and insect bites. Witch hazel helps to shrink and contract blood vessels back to normal size, hence it is included in some hemorrhoid medications.

Species

There are four species in the genus Hamamelis. Two species, Hamamelis virginiana and Hamamelis vernalis, are found in North America, and two species, Hamamelis japonica and Hamamelis mollis, are found in Asia.

See also

• Hamamelidaceae
• Witch hazel (astringent)

References

Hamamelis Resources
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