HAMAMELIDACE.E— WITCH HAZEL 



FAMILY 



Hamamelis virginiana. 



Hamamelis is an ancient name with no obvious application 

 to this plant. Witch is a modern spelling of the Saxon wich 

 or wych. The meaning of the word in this connection is 

 doubtful ; it is good opinion, however, that it means pendu- 

 lous, drooping ; two trees are so named, — wych elm and 

 wych hazel. 



Through the gray and sombre wood, 



Against the dusk of fir and pine, 

 Last of their floral sisterhood, 



The hazel's yellow blossoms shine. 



— John G. Whittier. 



Amid the wild-wood pomp and circumstance of our 

 northern autumn there is no more remarkable object 

 than the Witch Hazel, which at the very moment of 

 parting with its leaves breaks forth into an abundant 

 bloom that clusters thickly about the stems and gives 

 to November the aspect of April. The flower buds 

 appear in August, they expand rarely in September, 

 normally in October and November; and the flowers 

 appear three or four together at the end of a short, 

 brown, downy pedicel in the axil of a falling or fallen 

 leaf. The flower is in fours; four lobes to the calyx; 

 four long, crumpled, yellow petals; four fertile stamens 



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