XXXVII. J7AMAMLIDACE^S I 



499 



GENUS I. 



Uil 



//AMAME V LIS L. THE HAMAMELIS, or WYCH HAZEL. 

 Lin. Syst. Tetrandria Digynia. 



Identification. Liu. Gen., 169.; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 268.; Don's Mill., 3. p. 396. 



Synonymes. Trilopus Mith. Act. Acad. Nat. Cur. 8 App. ; Hamamelide, Hal. 



Derivation. jF/amamdlis is a name by which Athenaeus speaks of a tree which blossomed at the 

 same time as the apple tree ; the word being derived from hama, together with, and metis, an 

 apple tree. The modern application seems to be from the #amamelis having its blossoms accom- 

 panying its fruits (mela) ; both being on the tree at the same time. 



Gen. Char. Calyx 4-lobed, adhering to the ovarium at the base, furnished 

 with 23 scales on the outside. Petals 4, long, alternating with the teeth 

 of the calyx. Stamens 4-, alternating with the petals. Ovarium free at the 

 apex. Capsules coriaceous, 2-celled, 2-valved. Arils 2 in each capsule. 

 Seed oblong, shining. (Don's Mill.) 



Leaves simple, alternate, bistipulate, deciduous ; ovate or cuneated, 

 feather-nerved, nearly entire. Flowers nearly sessile, disposed in clusters, 

 in the axils of the leaves, girded by a 3-leaved involucruiu. Petals 

 yellow. Shrubs or low trees, deciduous; natives of North America; 

 interesting from producing their flowers in the autumn, which remain on 

 during the winter. 



sfc 1. H. VIRGI'NICA L. The Virginian Hamamelis, or Wych Hazel. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 4. p. 268. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 396. ; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. 



Synonymes. Hamamelie de Virginie, Fr. ; Virginische Zaubernuss, Get: ; Pistacchio nera della 



Virginia, Ital. 

 Engravings. N. Du Ham., 7. t. 60. ; Bot. Cab., t. 598. ; and our Jig. 909. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves obovate, acutely toothed, with 

 a small cordate recess at the base. (Don's Mill.) A 

 deciduous shrub. Canada to Florida; in dry and 

 stony situations, but frequently near water. Height 

 20 ft. to 30 ft. with a trunk 6 in. or more in dia- 

 meter. Introduced in 1736. Flowers yellow; be- 

 ginning of October to the end of February. 



Varieties. 



afc H. v. 2 parvifblia Nutt. Leaves smaller, ob- 

 long ovate, and a more stunted habit than 

 the species. Pennsylvania, on mountains. In 

 British gardens, when planted in peat soil, this 

 forms a very handsome little shrub ; and is 

 peculiarly valuable from being densely covered 

 , with fine yellow flowers throughout the winter, 

 fife *r" H. v. 3 macrophylla. H. macrophyila Pursh. 

 Leaves nearly orbicular, cordate, coarsely 

 and bluntly toothed, and scabrous from dots beneath. Western 

 part of Georgia, and North Carolina, on the Katawba Mountains. 

 Introduced in 1812, and flowers from May to November. 

 In British gardens, it has been but little cultivated, notwithstanding the sin- 

 gularity of its appearance in autumn and winter ; when it is profusely covered 

 with its fine rich yellow flowers, which begin to expand before the leaves of 

 the previous summer drop off, and continue on the bush throughout the 

 winter. After the petals drop off' in spring, the persistent calyxes remain on 

 till the leaves reappear in April or May. It will grow in any light free soil, 

 kept rather moist; and it is propagated by layers and by seeds; which last, 

 though rarely produced in Britain, are frequently sent to this country from 

 America. They ought to be sown immediately on being received, as they are 

 often two years before they come up. 



K K 2 



909. H. virginica. 



