"Witch-hazel Family"
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| Witch Hazel |
Corylopsis veitchiana |
The Hamamelidaceae family is comprised of 30 genera made up of 120 different species.
Corylopsis, the major genus of the family is made up of 7-20 species and the Dicoryphe genus has 15 species.
The Hamamelidaceae are primarily located in temperate to subtropical areas but have a very discontinuous distribution. They are found mainly in eastern Asia, and sometimes found in eastern North America, Australia, southern Africa, and Madagascar. In the United States and Canada there are 5 species,
the Fothergilla, Hamamelis, and Liquidambar.
Click here for a distribution map of the Hamamelidaceae in the U.S.A.
Vegetative Characters | Reproductive Characters |
Diagnostic Characters | Economic Importance/Fun Facts | Evolutionary Adaptations and Relationships | Glossary of Terms |
References and Links | Pictures
- trees or shrubs
- pubescence often stellate or tufted hairs
- leaves simple, serrate and/or palmately lobed
- leaves alternate, deciduous or persistant and stipulate
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- inflourescence indeterminate, spicate or capitate
- flowers actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic, perfect or imperfect, hypogenous to usually epiginous, inconspicuous
- calyx usually of 4 to 5 sepals, sometimes reduced or absent, basally connate, persistant.
- corolla usually with 4-5 petals or absent, distinct and small.
- androecium of 4 stamens and 4 staminodes or of numberous stamens. (see picture)
- filiaments distinct and anthers with 2-4 pollen sacs.
- dehiscing longitudinally or by upturning flap-like valves
- gynoecium of 1 pistil, 2-carpellate, syncarpous but often carpels diverging and separating apically.
- superior to inferior ovary (usually half-inferior), 2-locular, axial placentation
- 2 styles, distinct and 2 stigmas.
- fruit is a loculicidal capsule, with woody to leathery exocarp and bony endocarp.
- seeds sometimes winged with a shiny and hard seed coat
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- trees or shrubs
- pubescence stellate or tufted hairs
- small inconspicuous flowers with often reduced or absent perianth
- half-inferior ovary
- hardened styles and woody or leathery capsules
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- used medicinally as tonics, astringents and lotions and for its fragrant hardwood
- ornamentals
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- the monophyly of this group has been questioned. (Judd et al. 1999)
- the inclusion of Altingiaceae would make the Hamamelidaceae a nonmonophyletic group
- the Hamamelidoideae subfamily is probably a monophyletic group and they exhibit characteristics such as anthers with flaps, small stigmas, and leaves with pinnate venation.
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- Spicate: Resembling a form of simple inflorescence with the flowers sessile or nearly so upon a more or less elongated common axis.
- Capitate: 1. Shaped like a head; collected into a head or dense cluster. 2. Terminated by a bulbous, swollen area
- Staminode: A sterile stamen, or any structure without anther corresponding to a stamen
- Fasciculate: In close bundles or clusters.
- Loculicidal: Longitudinally dehiscent between the partitions of the locule.
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- Zomlefer, Wendy B., 1994. Guide to Flowering Plant Families. The University of North Carolina Press Chapel Hill, NC USA.
- Judd, W. S., C. S. Campbell, E. A. Kellogg, P. S. Stevens. 1999. Plant Systematics: a phylogenetic approach. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, MA U.S.A.
- http://www.nativesoftexas.com/Witchaz.jpg
- http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary
- http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/PICTS/hvirginianaleaf2.jpg
- http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/courses/bio215/HAMAMELIDACEAE.jpg
- http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/PICTS/hvirginianaflower2.jpg
- http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/PICTS/hvirginianafruit2.jpg
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| Hamamelidaceae |
Hamamelis virginiana bark |
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| leaf of Hamamelis virginiana |
flowers of Hamamelis virginiana |
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| fruit of Hamamelis virginiana |
twig of Hamamelis virginiana |
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For questions or feedback, contact:
Kelly McKay