Uses
Edible uses
Notes
Seed
Unknown part
Material uses
The plant is very rich in tannin[10]. It is used cosmetically as an ingredient in almost any preparation made to relieve capillary weaknesses[10]. The stems have been used for water divining[8].
Wood - heavy, hard, very close grained[11]. It weighs 43lb per cubic foot[12]. The trees are too small to be a useful lumber source[13].Medicinal uses(Warning!)
The bark is astringent, haemostatic, sedative and tonic[2][17][18][19][20][15]. Tannins in the bark are believed to be responsible for its astringent and haemostatic properties[15]. Bottled witch hazel water is a steam distillate that does not contain the tannins from the shrub[15], this is less effective in its action than a tincture[16]. The bark is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, colitis, dysentery, haemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, excessive menstruation, internal bleeding and prolapsed organs[16]. Branches and twigs are harvested for the bark in the spring[16]. An infusion of the leaves is used to reduce inflammations, treat piles, internal haemorrhages and eye inflammations[5]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[16].
A homeopathic remedy is made from fresh bark[1]. It is used in the treatment of nosebleeds, piles and varicose veins[1].Unknown part
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Rootstock
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Layering in early spring or autumn[25][23]. Takes 12 months. Good percentage[25].
Softwood cuttings, summer in a frame[23].Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Hamamelis virginiana. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
A very hardy plant tolerating temperatures down to about -35°c[28]. Plants seldom produce seeds in Britain[2]. Witch hazel is a widely used medicinal herb. The bark is harvested commercially from the wild in N. America[29]. The twigs have been used in the past as dowsing rods for water divining[13]. A slow growing shrub, it takes about 6 years to flower from seed[23]. The flowers have a soft sweet perfume[30].
This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[23].Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Hamamelis virginiana. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Hamamelis virginiana.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. ISBN 0-333-55581-3 (1990-00-00)
- ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
- ? 3.03.13.2 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
- ? 4.04.14.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
- ? 5.05.15.25.3 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
- ? 6.06.16.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
- ? 7.07.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
- ? 8.08.18.28.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
- ? 9.09.1 Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
- ? 10.010.110.2 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
- ? 11.011.1 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
- ? 12.012.1 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
- ? 13.013.113.2 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
- ? 14.014.1 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
- ? 15.015.115.215.315.4 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
- ? 16.016.116.216.316.416.516.6 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
- ? 17.017.117.217.3 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (1979-00-00)
- ? 18.018.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
- ? 19.019.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
- ? 20.020.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
- ? 21.021.1 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
- ? Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
- ? 23.023.123.223.323.423.523.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
- ? 25.025.125.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
- ? 26.026.1 ? The Plantsman. Vol. 4. 1982 - 1983. Royal Horticultural Society (1982-00-00)
- ? 27.027.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
- ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (1989-00-00)
- ? Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
- ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
-
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- ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
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