(Witch-Hazel Family.)
A small family of trees and shrubs represented in most countries.
Genus 40. HAMAMÈLIS.
Tall shrubs, rarely tree-like, with alternate, straight-veined, 2-ranked, oval, wavy-margined leaves. Flowers conspicuous, yellow, 4-parted; blooming in the autumn while the leaves are dropping, and continuing in bloom through part of the winter. Fruit rounded capsules which do not ripen till the next summer.
H. Virginiána.
Hamamèlis Virginiána, L. (Witch-hazel.) The only species; 10 to 30 ft. high; rarely grows with a single trunk, but usually forms a slender, crooked-branched shrub. Flowers sessile, in small clusters of 3 to 4, in an involucre in the axils of the leaves.
Genus 41. LIQUIDÁMBAR.
Trees with alternate, simple, palmately cleft leaves. Flowers inconspicuous; in spring. Fruit a large (1 in.), globular, long-stalked, dry, open, rough catkin, hanging on the tree through the winter.
