Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Hamamelis virginiana
Witch-hazel
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
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F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; crenate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; oblanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: solitary

Flowers: perfect; 4 merous; complete, regular; yellow; perigynous ovary position

Fruit: capsule

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat:

ILPIN Notes: Seed company numbers: 2, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Species has linear petals, flowers in axillary clusters with a late flowering period. Twigs, leaves, and bark are used to prepare an extract for shaving lotions and sprain or bruise ointments; fresh leaves are astringent because of high concentrations of tanins. Form - whips, seedlings. This pertains to terrestrial furbearers who eat as food bark, foliage, and seeds. Regarding aquatic species food value, this pertains to aquatic furbearers who also eat bark as food.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal: explosive fruit
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: high

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good; small mammals: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 8
  • Chicago Area: 8

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