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West Virginia Trees

Chapter 85: WITCH HAZEL
By A. B. Brooks
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Nature/Gardening/Animals

About This Book

A practical field guide to the native and introduced trees of West Virginia, providing keys based mainly on leaves and fruits, concise family and species descriptions, and detailed line drawings for about 101 native species. It organizes trees by botanical families, gives brief flower notes, a glossary of terms, and suggestions for identifying specimens; occasional introduced species and shrubs are noted. The bulletin emphasizes simplicity for non-specialists, offers measurements and habit descriptions for each species, and includes administrative prefatory material. Its aim is to aid lay readers and students in tree identification and to encourage local interest in forestry.

WITCH HAZEL

Hamamelis virginiana, L.

Form.—Height 15-25 feet, diameter 4-10 inches; trunk short, often inclined, bearing an irregular crown.

Leaves.—Alternate, simple, oval, 4-6 inches long, rounded at the apex, wavy-toothed, somewhat downy when young.

Flowers.—October and November; perfect; with 4 slender, strap-shaped yellow petals, clustered at the leaf axils.

Fruit.—Ripens in autumn from flowers of the previous year; a two-celled, woody, nut-like pod, ½ inch long, containing black shining seeds which are propelled a distance of several feet when the pods burst open.

Bark.—Smooth or scaly, thin, light brown and blotched.

Wood.—Heavy, hard, close-grained, light brown.

Range.—Ontario to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.

Distribution in West Virginia.—Found throughout the State.

Habitat.—Prefers moist rocky soils but thrives in a variety of situations.

Notes.—This small abundant tree is interesting in that it blossoms in the fall at the same time its fruit is maturing. It is not important for forestry uses, and is seldom planted for any purpose.