Hamamelis（Shaniodendron subaequale(H. T. Chang) M. B. Deng&al.) is a small deciduous tree of Hamamelidaceae and Hamamelis.The plant height is 4-5m;Bare buds, tomentose, buds and young branches covered with stellate hairs;Leaves obovate, apex obtuse, shiny above, stellate pilose below;Short spikes are axillary and terminal, male flowers are in the same order as bisexual flowers, flowers are sessile, bracts are ovate, calyx tube is shallow cup-shaped, calyx has irregular blunt teeth, no petals, filaments are long, flowers droop, connectives are prominent, ovary is semi inferior;Capsule is nearly round, style is persistent, seed is spindle shaped, brown and shiny, hilum is light yellow;Flowering in May[8]。
Hamamelis is distributed in Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan and other places in China.It likes warm and humid climate and has strong cold resistance.Acidic, neutral, slightly alkaline and calcareous loam can adapt, but deep, fertile, moist and well drained loam is preferred[9]。Hazel hazel is critically endangered in the Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union (CR)[10]。The breeding methods are generally sowing, cutting and root cutting[9]。
Hamamelis has a regular tree shape, large crown and good shade quality, which can be used as garden trees, court shade trees and street trees[9]。The wood of witch hazel is very hard, straight in texture, fine in structure, smooth and shiny in light brown section, and is a good material for cabinetwork, handicrafts, furniture, etc[11]。
Chinese name
Hamamelis
Latin name
Shaniodendron subaequale(H. T. Chang) M. B. Deng & al.[5]
In September 1935,Nanjing Zhongshan Botanical GardenShen Jun, a botanist, collected plant specimens in the limestone mountain area of Furong Temple in Yixing, Jiangsu Province. It was full of branches and fruits, similar to witch hazel, but different. After collecting the standard, he was ready for identification. Because of the outbreak of the Anti Japanese War and the Liberation War, the research work was interrupted, and this precious specimen was kept in the laboratory.
In 1954, when Professor Shan Hua of the former Zhongshan Institute of Botany cleaned up the specimens, he thought that this species was a member of the Hamamelidaceae population, similar to Japan's Hamamelis, but could not be confirmed, and then pointed out that this specimen was of great significance.
In 1960, this specimen was mistakenly identified as Witch Hazel of Hamamelidaceae Hamamelis, which led to the misunderstanding of this important scientific discovery.In 1987, the state was compiling rare and endangered plants“red data book”When the scientific and technical personnel went toYixingFinally, we found the physical specimen in the limestone mountain area of the same type.In the subsequent phenological observation, it was unexpectedly found that the flower organ of this species has no petals, it is notHamamelisIt is a kind of apetalous tree species in Hamamelidaceae. Its morphological characteristics are consistent with those of the Fugite plants of Hamamelidaceae in North America, but it is different from other genera of the family. It is a new genus and a new species.In 1992, Professor Zhu De, a botanist, named it Hamamelis: Hamamelis of Hamamelis Kefujite, Hamamelis of the genus Hamamelis.
morphological character
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Hamamelis
Small deciduous trees, with stellate pubescence at the beginning of the twigs, becoming bald later, dark brown after drying, without lenticels;The bud is bare, small, and covered with villus.Leaves are thin and leathery, obovate, 4-6.5 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, the widest above the middle, blunt at the apex, round, truncate or microcardioid at the base, symmetrical on both sides;The upper part is green, slightly dark and shiny after drying, except for the middle rib and lateral veins, which are slightly stellate, the rest are bald and hairless;The lower part is light brown, with stellate pubescence;Lateral veins about 4-5 pairs, slightly depressed above, protruding below, the first pair of lateral veins without secondary branches;The margin has several wavy shallow teeth near the apex, without dentition, and the lower half is entire;Petiole 5-7 mm long, stellate hairy;StipuleEarly fall.
CapitulumBorn in the leaf axils of the current year branches, there are 4-5 flowers, and the inflorescence stalk is about 1cm long, with star hairs;Flowers have no pedicels, calyx tube is shallow cup-shaped, about 1 mm long, with grayish brown star hairs on the outside, calyx teeth are ovoid, 3 mm long, and the apex is round;Petals and stamens not seen;Ovary near superior, base connate with calyx tube;Starry hairs;Style 2 mm long, apex acute, slightly elongated after anthesis.capsuleIt is suborbicular, 8-9 mm long, with short persistent style at the apex, 2-lobed after drying, each 2-lobed, the calyx tube is no longer than 2.5 mm, and the edge is slightly separated from the pericarp.The seed is spindle shaped, 6-7 mm long, sharp at both ends, brown and shiny, and the hilum is light yellow.It blooms in May.[2]
Growth environment
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It likes warm and humid climate and has strong cold resistance.Acidic, neutral, slightly alkaline and calcareous loam can adapt, but deep, fertile, moist and well drained loam is preferred[9]。
Distribution range
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Hazel hamamelis is distributed in the hilly and mountainous areas in the south of Yixing, Jiangsu Province, the Dabie Mountains at an altitude of 400-700m, Longwang Mountain in Anji, Zhejiang Province, Longtang Mountain in Lin'an, Wanfo Mountain in Shucheng, Anhui Province, and the northern slope of Qingliang Peak in Jixi, southern Anhui, Jiangsu Province.
Reproductive methods
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The breeding methods are generally sowing, cutting and root cutting[9]。
During the seed reproduction period of witch hazel, the air humidity can be increased to delay the time of anther dehiscence, extend the pollen life, reduce the adverse effects caused by the unexpected flowering period, and thus improve the seed setting rate.Secondly, the method of cutting can also be used to expand Hamamelis, but long-term cutting will lead to the decline of genetic diversity of Hamamelis.In addition, grafting is also one of the means for the expansion of Hamamelis, which can be carried out by grafting on the root stock or intergeneric grafting with Iran Hamamelis to graft the old and young branches of the plant.[3]
Key values
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Ornamental value: Hamamelis is hard, straight, fine and dense in structure, smooth, light brown and shiny in section, and can be used as joinery, handicraft, furniture, etc.The trees are simple in appearance and vigorous in stem shape. The leaves turn yellow in autumn, and the flowers are more peculiar,Both tree shape and leaf color are of great ornamental value.[7]It can be used as a garden landscape tree and an excellent bonsai tree species.[1]
Research value: As one of the oldest plant species, witch hazel has great value in the systematic study of Hamamelidaceae.Witch hazel originated inTriassicIn the early and middle period, it was the shallow sea area of the ancient Qinglong Sea and the local land sea interaction zone. After the sea water retreated, it belonged to the Cathaysian flora. The discovery of witch hazel added new evidence to the Cathaysian flora.This pair of flora, phytogeographyancient extinct lifeSuch multidisciplinary research provides indispensable living materials.At the same time, compared with other apetalous plants, the morphology of Hamamelis is very similar to that of the native Hamamelis on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.The clarification of the flower morphological characteristics of Hamamelis is also of great significance for the study of the phylogeny of the apetalous group of Hamamelidaceae.[3]
Protection status
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This species is listed in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants (the first batch) approved by the State Council on August 4, 1999: Grade I;《IUCN Red List of Endangered Species》(IUCN): Critical (CR).It was listed in the National Planning for the Conservation of Wild Plants with Minimal Populations (2011-2015).[4]
As living hamamelis is a Neogene relic, it has been listed in the "National Class I Key Protected Wild Plants List" and "IUCN Extremely Endangered Species", and is known as a "living fossil" more precious than giant pandas.[6]
In September 2023, according to the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Chinese and German paleontologists found a blooming hamamelis flower in the Zhangpu amber about 15 million years ago.This is the first fossil of hamamelis flower discovered so far.[12]
