English: Witch hazel family.
Region: subtropical regions and on the east coast of the USA as well as the east coast of Asia.
BotanyShrubs and small trees
Leaves: alternate; often 2-ranked; stipules borne on stems.
Inflorescence: spikes, racemes or nonglobose heads.
Flowers: ovary half-inferior, with two carpels; multicellular stigma, with shallow papillae or ridges; anthers basifixed, shorter than in other families in the
Saxifragales; petals narrow and ribbon-like; bisexual, andromonoecious.
Pollen: sticky; tricolpate, with reticulate exines.
Pollination: by insects or wind; Rhodoleia by birds.
TaxonomyHamamelidaceae was included in and gave the name to the Hammamelidae in the Cronquist system. Hammamelidae is shown to be polyphyletic. Most members have been placed in
Fagales in the
Apg3 classification.
Hamamelidaceae is included in
Saxifragales. Including
Altingiaceae in
Hamamelidaceae makes it polyphyletic. This is prevented by including
Cercidiphyllaceae and
Daphniphyllaceae also in
Hamamelidaceae.
Paeoniacaeae is close to this extended
Hamamelidaceae.
Plant theoryIn the
Plant theory Hamamelidaceae are treated as including
Altingiaceae,
Cercidiphyllaceae and
Daphniphyllaceae, which is a monophyletic clade. It is placed in
Subphase 4 in
Saxifragales.
Hamamelis, the best known member, has a strong feeling of obvious respect; obvious indicating
Phase 4, respect indicating
Silver series.