The genus Hamamelis is composed of six species native to North America [3] and temperate east Asia [3]. The word hamamelis is the classical Greek name of Mesipilus germanica L., medlar, or perhaps Sorbus domestica L., servicetree, words meaning together (in a time sense) and apple, which suggests flowers blooming at the same time.
Other Common Names: common witch hazel, snapping hazel, southern witch hazel, spotted alder, winter bloom.
Distribution: North America, from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine and Quebec, west to Ontario, Michigan and Minnesota, south to Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and east to Florida.
The Tree: Witch hazel is a fall-to-winter flowering tree or shrub. It has a thin, scaly, light-brown bark and small branches that grow in a zigzag manner. The flowers are bisexual with prominent, yellow, ribbon-like petals. The fruits are small, paired and horned. The tree attains heights of 30 ft (9 m) and diameters of 1 ft (0.3 m). Witch hazel grows at forest edges and along streams as an understory species. It grows best in deep, rich soils.
General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of witch hazel is light brown, with a pinkish hue, while the heartwood is dark brown. The wood has medium luster and no odor or taste. It has medium density, fine texture, and straight grain.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.56 59 945
12% 0.61 43 689
Ovendry 0.71 NA NA
aReference (59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 1.11 106 7.653 GPa 1.46 106 10.067 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 8.30 103 57.229 MPa 15.2 103 104.804 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 3.40 103 23.443 MPa 6.74 103 46.472 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.62 103 4.275 MPa 1.37 103 9.446 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 19.5 134.453 21.0 144.795
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 980 lbf 4,359.04 N 1,530 lbf 6,805.44 N
Shear| | 1.12 103 7.722 MPa NA NA
lbf/in2
aReference (59).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential NA NA NA
Radial NA NA NA
Volumetric 18.8 NA NA
aReference (59).
Durability: Nonresistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Branches for divining rods, oil from leaves; twigs and bark used for liniments and medicines.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.