2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Hamamelis virginiana (lat. Hamamelis virginiana) - a shrub or tree, a representative of the genus Hamamelis (Latin Hamamelis) of the Witch hazel family (Latin Hamamelidaceae). Witch hazel is native to the eastern part of North America, where the plant lives in deciduous forests or along the banks of streams. American Indians make extensive use of the bark and leaves of Witch Hazel in the fight against a number of ailments. The plant is quite decorative and is used to decorate gardens and parks in autumn, since it blooms during this period of the year.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Hamamelis" is based on two ancient Greek words, the meaning of which is the simultaneous presence of flowers and fruits on the branches of the plant. This is due to the late autumn flowering, which bears fruit only next summer. Thus, it turns out that the fruits from last year's flowering still hold on to the branches when a new autumn flowering is born on them.
The specific Latin epithet "virginiana" indicates the place of birth of the plant and is translated as "virginian" or "virginian".
The first description of the plant belongs to Karl Linnaeus and dates back to 1753.
Description
Witch hazel is a deciduous shrub or small tree that blooms in autumn. Plant height, as a rule, ranges from 4, 5 (four and a half) to 6 (six) meters, but under favorable conditions of natural habitat it can reach 9 (nine) meters.
The bark of the trunk is smooth, scaly, light brown, and reddish-purple inside. The fluffy twigs later become smooth, tinted light orange or brown, and finally dark or reddish brown.
Picturesque leaves on a short and thick petiole are obovate or oval in shape and are colored from medium green to dark green. The well-defined veins of the leaf blade give the leaf a spectacular look and turn the leaf edge into wavy or jagged edges. In autumn, the leaves acquire a pale yellow color with rusty spots and fall off.
Witch hazel is perhaps the last plant to beautify nature with its flowering before the onset of winter. From October to December, bright yellow (less often orange or reddish) fragrant flowers with four shaggy ribbon-like petals and four short stamens appear on the branches. The appearance of flowers either coincides with the fall of leaves, or occurs after the leaves have fallen to the ground. After pollination, a long period of ripening of the fruits of the plant begins, which can last until the next flowering. Then fruits and fresh flowers are present on the branches at the same time.
The fruits are greenish seed capsules resembling nuts, which, when ripe, change color to light brown and lignify. There are one or two black seeds inside the capsule. The capsule disintegrates in the fall of the year following flowering, throwing out seeds within a radius of 9-10 (nine-ten) meters from the parent plant.
Usage
For a long time, the natives of America have used the bark and leaves of Hamamelis virginiana for the treatment of diseases. With a decoction of the bark and stems of the bush, they treated inflammation and swelling, as well as skin diseases. The first Europeans who settled on American lands adopted the recipes of the Indians, turning the plant into a popular healer of various human ailments. In particular, with the help of herbal preparations, colon cancer is treated.
The dense, hard and heavy wood of the trees, painted in a light reddish brown color, is used for various crafts.
The scent of the leaves and bark is used in skin cosmetics, shaving lotions, soaps and ointments.
In culture, witch hazel is used to decorate parks and gardens in the fall, when other plants are already finishing their vegetative activity.
