American Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Saxifragales>Hamamelidaceae>Hamamelis virginiana L.

American Witchhazel is a fairly common small tree or large shrub of forests with large, roundish, wavy-margined leaves.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Carroll Co., VA 6/14/03.

The unusual flowers appear at an unusual time - in late fall, just as the leaves are falling.

Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.

The flowers have a delicate fragrance. Flowering may continue into December.

Carroll Co., VA 11/9/02.

	Carroll Co., VA 11/14/2010.
	Carroll Co., VA 11/14/2010.
	Developing fruits. Carroll Co., VA 4/10/2011.
	Developing fruits with old pod from previous year. Carroll Co., VA 4/10/2011.
	Just leafing out. Carroll Co., VA 4/11/2010.
	New leaves have a pleated look to them. Carroll Co., VA 4/11/2010.
	Emerging leaves with developing fruits. Carroll Co., VA 4/26/2008.
	Carroll Co., VA 4/26/2008.

	The densely pubescent capsules are unusual, too. These are still ripening. Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/05.
	The capsules take a year to mature. They ripen and split open in late fall, as the next year's flowers appear. Carroll Co., VA 10/16/06.
	The naked, hairy buds are distinctively stalked. Carroll Co., VA 11/9/02.
	The bark is smooth with many warty lenticels. Carroll Co., VA 11/9/02.

cwcook@duke.edu