Hamamelis
(from hama, with, and melon, fruit; the fruit accompanies the flower). Witch-hazel. ORD. Hamamelideae. A genus containing three species of hardy deciduous shrubs or small trees, one from the United States, the others from Japan. Flowers yellow, two to three bracteolate, glomerate. Leaves alternate, sub-rotundate, unequal at the base, crenate-dentate. H. virginica, the species best known in gardens, thrives in a moist sandy soil, and may be propagated by layers. During autumn and winter, the plant 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 calyces remain on till the leaves reappear in April or May.
H. arborea (tree-like).* fl., petals clear rich primrose-yellow; calyces deep claret. Winter. Japan, 1862. This plant differs from the American species in forming a small tree, 15ft. to 20ft. high, and in its larger and finer flowers. (G. C. n. s., i., 187; B. M. 6659, under name of H. japonica.) H. japonica (Japanese). fl. lemon-yellow. A form with paler flowers, and of much dwarfer habit than H. arborea. H. Zuccariniana is an allied form, with pale petals and a greenish-brown calyx.
H. virginica (Virginian).* fl. yellow, disposed in axillary clusters. October to February. l. obovate, acutely toothed, alternate, on short petioles. North America, 1736. Shrub. The seeds of this plant contain a quantity of oil, and are edible; the bark and leaves are astringent. (B. M. 6684.)