Witch-hazel Family
What are they?
A family of temperate and tropical woody plants that has given us a number of ornamental flowering plants with often showy flowers that are often produced in winter or early spring, before the leaves appear.
Where are they found?
As introduced ornamentals, these plants are most likely to be found where planted in amenity areas, churchyards, cemeteries and the like.
Identification
These plants can be rather similar in overall appearance but careful attention to details of the leaves and buds helps with identification, while the flowers - when present - all help.
Persian Ironwood Parrotia persica
Introduced from northern Iran as a garden ornamental and popular in larger parks and cemeteries for its autumn colour. Flowers March to April. A deciduous tree or large shrub with wide-sreading branches, sometimes forming suckering thickets. Leaves 6-10cm long producing rich autumn colours. Flowers petalless, the stamens emerging cream-coloured and ripening bright red, opening in late winter to early spring before the leaves. Bark flaking, similar to that of London Plane.
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