The Sassafras and the Witch Hazels 



103 



The fruit is berry-like, small, oval, blue, soft, and single-seeded. It is borne 

 on a fleshy, cup-shaped stem. 



The sassafras is sometimes sawn into lumber in Canada and used for cabinet- 



SASSAFRAS 



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work. The wood is soft and durable, has a pleasing grain and figure, and is plea- 

 santly aromatic. 



THE WITCH HAZELS 



Three species of witch hazel (Hamamelis) are known, one in North America 

 and two in Asia. They are all small trees or shrubs and not important for lumber. 



HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA, Linn. WITCH HAZEL 



Common names: Witch hazel, winter bloom, snapping hazel. 

 French name: Hamamelis de Virginie. 



The witch hazel is sometimes a small tree 20 to 25 ft. high, but more often is a 

 shrub growing in thickets or clumps on moist sites in ravines and on shady hill- 

 sides. In Canada it is found from Nova Scotia westward throughout the southern 

 portions of Quebec and Ontario. 



The bark is smooth, brown, and mottled on the trunk and larger branches. 

 On the slender zigzag twigs it is shiny, sometimes downy. 



