Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

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  1.   1.  Description
    1.   1.1  Growth
  2.   2.  Obtainment
  3.   3.  Uses
    1.   3.1  Medicine
  4.   4.  Other
  5.   5.  More
  6.   6.  'Souls
Common Name Witch Hazel
Latin Name Hamamelis virginiana
Icon(s) Witch-hazel
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1.  Description

It is a small, deciduous tree growing up to 6 m (rarely to 10 m) tall, often with a dense cluster of stems from its base. The bark is light brown, smooth, scaly, inner bark reddish purple. The flowers are pale to bright yellow, rarely orange or reddish, with four ribbon-shaped petals 10–20 mm long. Flowering begins in about mid-fall and continues until late fall. The wood is light reddish brown, sapwood nearly white; heavy, hard, close-grained, with a density of 0.68.

1.1  Growth

Prefers to grow on dry soils near the sea-coast and on riverbanks.

2.  Obtainment

Very Common. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalized in many parts of the world.

3.  Uses

3.1  Medicine

It is often used as a natural remedy for psoriasis, eczema, aftershave applications, ingrown nails, to prevent sweating of the face, cracked or blistered skin, for treating insect bites, poison ivy, and as a treatment for varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

  • Mainly used externally on sores, bruises, and swelling.
  • Witch hazel is a strong anti-oxidant and astringent, which makes it very useful in fighting acne.
  • It is recommended to women to reduce swelling and soothe wounds resulting from childbirth
  • Native Americans produced witch hazel extract by boiling the stems of the shrub and producing a decoction, which was used to treat swellings, inflammations, and tumors.

4.  Other

  • The plant does not produce enough essential oil to make production viable.

5.  More

6.  'Souls

  • Hey, did your character do something cool with this plant?
  • Or maybe your pack has it for trade?


Categories: Flora | Resources