WITCH-HAZEL
Hamamelis virginiana L.
This tall-growing shrub which has the peculiar habit of blooming in the late fall and ripening its [fruit] in early spring is native to the extreme eastern portion of Texas, being found on rich soils of streams or along the borders of the forest.
The [BARK] is smooth, white, gray, and mottled with light brown.
The LEAVES are usually [obovate], 3 to 5 inches long, prominently veined, with a wavy margin, very irregular at the base, bright green above and slightly paler below. They are generally smooth.
The odd, yellow FLOWERS are borne in clusters along the branch, with long, very narrow twisted petals. They develop during November, December, and January, the time depending somewhat on the weather, and possess a refreshing fragrance. The [FRUIT] is a hard, tough, two-celled [capsule], with two beaks. It divides in half, each half containing a shiny black seed. In the late summer or early autumn the capsules pop open, discharging the seeds.
WITCH-HAZEL (Leaf, one-half natural size; flower and [fruit], natural size)
The WOOD is hard and close-grained. The trees do not grow large enough to be of commercial value.
An analgesic extract used in lotions and balms is obtained from the inner [bark] by distillation.