Trichocladus grandiflorus
Trichocladus grandiflorus is a species in the genus Trichocladus, in the family Hamamelidaceae. It is also called splendid witch-hazel.
Description and range
The evergreen Trichocladus grandiflorus, though sometimes a shrub, is typically found in the form of a tree, to 7 meters, and occasionally grows very large, up to 30 meters. It is native to South Africa and Eswatini, where it may be found on the fringes of mountain mist-belt forests, in wooded ravines, and in low-altitude evergreen forests.Leaves: Its leaves are alternate or opposite, and are ovate to lanceolate, with a pointed tip and slightly more rounded base. Young leaves are a conspicuous bronzy reddish-brown, with velvet-like hairs, but soon change, becoming pale and glabrous on the undersides, with very prominent veins, and remaining glossy green above. Adult leaves tend to be between 5 cm and 10 cm in length, and 2.5–5 cm wide.
Flowers: Handsome flowers, nearly 4 cm in diameter, in loose axillary or terminal heads, are white tinged, becoming purple near the base, and closely resemble Hamamelis in shape. Petals are crinkly and long, to 2.5 cm, and at 4 cm in diameter are comparatively broad for this genus. Male and female parts are borne on separate flowers, either on the same specimen or different specimens. Flowers from December to January.
Fruit: Small, dark, 2-valved capsules that appear 4-valved at the apex are borne from February to May, but may be much later.