IIanouook of Ti;i:j;s of the Noktiikk-n States and Canada. 225 



The Witch-Hazel is usually a large shrub 

 throughout the greater part of its range, but 

 on the slopes of tiie Alleghany Mountains be- 

 comes a tree 30 to 40 ft. in height with spread- 

 ing crooked branches and short scaly-barked 

 trunk from 12-18 in. in diameter. The \\ itcii- 

 Hazel is of special interest from the fact that 

 it does not expand its llowers until autumn, 

 often so late that its leaves have put on their 

 autumnal tints or have even fallen to the 

 ground, and the first snows of the winter 

 sometimes find it bearing its singular golden 

 and delicately fragrant flowers. In the au- 

 tumn, too, is the time when it scatters its 

 seeds resultiiiji; from the flowers of the pre- 

 vious season, and this it does in a peculiar 

 waj'. It actually discharges them from their 

 mortar-like capsules with considerable force 

 and accompanied with an audible report. This 

 it does by a contraction of the horny lining of 

 the capsules upon the smooth hard seed until 

 it is discharged, quite as one can discharge a 

 moist apple seed by pinching it between thumb 

 and finger. 



The wood is rather heavy, a cu. ft. when 

 absolutely dry weighing 42.73 lbs., hard and 

 very close-grained but is of no commercial im- 

 portance.! An extract from the bark is ex- 

 tensively used for allaying inflammation. 



Leaves oval to obovate, short-petiolate, rounded 

 or subcordate and very unequal at base, from 

 rounded to acute or acuminate at apex, undulato 

 crenate. membraneaceous, smooth dark sreen 

 above, lighter and pubescent on veins l)eneath 

 Flouers nearly sessile ; petals bright yellow, de- 

 ciduous ; calyx pubescent, persistent. Fruit cap- 

 sules dull brown, opening ('lastica!Iy.= 



1. .' 



XII. 2S1. 



2. Fui- 



-i;;(; -i:;?. 



