What is the Latin name for witch hazel?
HamamelisWitch-hazel / Scientific name
American witchhazel is a member of the Witch-hazel family. The genus name Hamamelis is Latin from the Greek meaning a kind of medlar or service tree.
How did witch hazel get its name?
The name witch hazel is a derivation from old English “wice” or “wiche” which means pliant or bendable. Early English settlers found that the branches of the witch hazel could be used to douse or divine for underground water much as the hazel bush (Corylus) was used back in England.
Where is witch hazel native?
The common or Virginia witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, is a native of Illinois woodlands and can be found growing in shady sections of McDonald Woods as an understory tree. It is the last tree/shrub to bloom in the fall, usually in mid- to late October, with fragrant yellow, straplike petals.
Is witch hazel native to Virginia?
In the Northeast, witch-hazel is the last native woody plant of the season to flower, spreading its blooms in September, October, or November. Witch-hazel is especially appropriate as a Wildflower of the Year because it was first discovered in Virginia, hence its specific scientific name, virginiana.
What does hazel flower mean?
Hamamelis symbolism Hamamelis means protection and inspiration, but it can also symbolize magic and mysticism. Protection.
What is witch hazel and where does it come from?
Witch hazel is a plant. The leaf, bark, and twigs are used to make medicine. You may see a product called witch hazel water (Hamamelis water, distilled witch hazel extract). This is a liquid that is distilled from dried leaves, bark, and partially dormant twigs of witch hazel.
Is witch hazel a nut?
“Witch hazel is a shrub that everybody in New England, who goes into the woodland, knows by sight. The two are not related although witch hazel seeds/nuts are also edible.
Is hazel a witch name?
Why Is it Called Witch Hazel? The plant’s name does not refer to witchcraft, but comes from the Middle English word wych or wyche, meaning pliant or flexible, which is a reference to the plant’s very flexible branches. The “hazel” in the name comes from the plant’s similarity to the common hazelnut.
What was witch hazel originally used for?
The Osage used witch hazel bark to treat skin ulcers and sores; the Potawatomi steamed twigs over hot rocks in their sweat lodges to soothe sore muscles; the Iroquoi brewed a tea to treat dysentery, colds, and coughs.