784 



HAMAMEL1DACE/E. 



[Epigynous Exogexs. 



Order CCXCIX. HAMAME LI DACE ^.—Witch-Hazels. 



Hamamelidese, R. Br. in Abel's Voyage to China, (1^18) ; A. Richard Nouv. EUm. 532. (1828) ; DC. 

 Prodr. 4. 267. (1830); Endl. Gen. clxvii. ; Griffith in Asiatic Researches, (183(5), six. p. 94. 



Diagnosis. — UmbcVal Exogens, with a 2-cel/ed not didymous fruit withozit a double 

 epigynous disk, an imbricated corolla, alternate leaves with stipules, and anthers with 

 deciduous va-'ves. 



Small trees or shrubs. Their woody tubes, in some cases, marked by circular disks. 

 Leaves alternate, deciduous, toothed, with veins running from the midrib straight to 



the margin. Stipules de- 

 ciduous. Flowers small, 

 axillary, sometimes uni- 

 sexual by abortion. Calyx 

 adherent, in 4 or 5 pieces. 

 Petals 4 or 5, or ; if 

 present, with an imbrica- 

 ted aestivation. Stamens 

 8, of which 4 are alternate 

 with the petals ; their an- 

 thers turned inwards, '2- 

 celled, and 4 are sterile, 

 and placed at the base of 

 the petals ; then' dehis- 

 cence variable. Ovary 

 2-celled, inferior ; ovules 

 solitary or several, pendu- 

 lous or suspended ; styles 

 2. Fruit half inferior, 

 capsular, usually opening 

 with 2 septiferous valves. 

 Seeds pendulous ; embryo 

 in the midst of fleshy horny 

 albumen ; radicle superior. 

 According to Brown, the affinity of Witch-hazels is on the one hand with Bruniads, 

 from which they are distinguished by the insertion and dehiscence of the anthers, the 

 monospermous cells of the ovary, the dehiscence of the capsule, the quadrifid calyx, 

 and by habit ; and on the other with Cornus, Marlea, and the neighbouring genera ; in 

 some respects also with Ivy worts, but differing in their capsular fruit, the structure of 

 the anthers, and other marks. — See Abel's Voyage, Appendix. Mr. Griffith observed 

 in Bucklandia and Sedgwickia that the woody tissue is marked with circular dots 

 something like those of Conifers. 



The specie.- come from North America, Japan, China, and the central parts of Asia, 

 Madagascar, and South Africa. 



The kernels of Hamamelis virginica are oily and eatable. The leaves and bark 

 are very astringent, and also contain a peculiar acrid essential oil. 



The curious genus Rhodoleia, with great red involucral leaves, gives quite a new 

 aspect to this Order, and points to an affinity of some kind with Liquidambars (see 

 Bentham in Bot. Mag. t. 4509), as had indeed been pointed out by Griffith, who 

 eventually reduced Sedgwickia itself to Liquidambar (see his report upon Cantors 

 Collections). 



Fig. DX1X. 



I. HAMAMF.LE.fi. — 



Ovules solitary. 



Dicoryphe, Thouars. 

 Dicorypha,. Spreng. 



GENERA 



Corylopsis, Sieb. el Zucc 

 Trichocladus, Pers. 



Dahlia, Thuub. 

 Hamamelis, Linn. 



Trilopus, Mitch. 



Numbers. Gex. 13 



Loropetalum, R. Br. 

 Parmtia, C. A. Mey. 

 Fothergilla, Linn. f. 

 Distylium, Zucc. 



Position — Bruniaceae.- 



Sp. ? 



-Hamamei.ipace.e.- 

 AltingiacecB. 



-Cornacepe. 



? II. BrCKLANDE^E. — 



Ovules several in each 

 cell. 



Bucklandia, R. Br. 

 Sedgwickia, Grin'. 

 Rhodoleia, Champion. 

 Eustigma, Gardner. 

 Tetracrypta, Sard 



Fig. DXIX. — Corylopsis. 1. flowers ; 2. branch in fruit ; 3. a flower separate ; 4. a stamen ; 

 5. a perpendicular section of the ovary ; G. a section of a seed removed from the capsule and 

 placed with the hilum downwards. 



