witch hazel

Description:

Most easily recognized in mid fall through parts of winter when the yellow octopus like flower blooms. Blooms last partially through winter. It has alternate-simple leaf with a serrated margin with the shape of a lobe. The central vein of the leaf could be slightly hairy, light green on bottom and darker on top of the leaf, and then gets yellowish rusty spots toward the end of maturity. The leaf stipule is tapered at the base as well as the apex. Witch Hazel has a smooth light brown scaly bark that has a reddish purple underside. The branches tend to be late bloomers, starting off a light orange –brown, finally turning smooth with a dark reddish –brown color with occasionally getting white dots. The fruit on this tree is a hard woodsy capsule, one year after maturity the apex of the capsule explodes ejecting 2 black seeds up to 30 feet in distance. Inside of the seed is a white oily edible meat that tastes similar to a pistachio nut. Indians from the south cherished these seeds.

Habitat:

Witch Hazel is a native shrub to North America, ranging from the east coast south to Florida, north to Nova Scotia, and west to Texas.. Witch Hazel averages from 18 to 30 feet in height found in the understory of forest thriving in rich, moist mesic soils. You can find it in the shade on north facing slopes and along forest edges and streams.