XXXVII, HAMAMELIDA'CEZ: HAMAME'LIS. 499 
Genus I. 
A 
AHAMAME'LIS Z. Tue Hamame is, or Wren HAZEL, 
Lin, Syst. Tetrandria Digynia. 
Identification. Lin. Gen., 169.; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 268.; Don’s Mill, SP 396. 
Synonymes. Trildpus Mith. Act, Acad. Nat. Cur. 8 App. ; Hamamelide, Ital. 
Derivation. Hamamélis is a name by which Athenzus speaks of a tree which blossomed at the 
same time as the apple tree ; the word being derived from kama, together with, and mmélis, an 
apple tree. The modern application seems to be from the Hamamélis having its blossoms accom- 
panying its fruits (méla) ; both being on the tree at the same time. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 4-lobed, adhering to the ovarium at the base, furnished 
with 2—8 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 involucrum. 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. 
2 #1. H. virei’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, Ger.; Pistacchio nera del.a 
Virginia, Ital. 
Engravings. N. Du Ham., 7. t. 60. ; Bot. Cab., t. 598. ; and our jig. 909. 
Spec. Char., §&c. 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 freyuently 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. 
& ¥ HL 0. 2 parvifolia 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. 
& ¥ H. v. 3 macrophilla. H. macrophylla Pursh, j 
— Leaves nearly orbicular, cordate, coarsely 909. H. virginica. 
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. 
KK 2 
