Parrotia persica

Persian ironwood is in the witch-hazel or Hamamelidaceae family and is native to northern Iran. It is a small tree, reaching up to 12 m in height.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, ovoid, often slightly lopsided, 6–15 cm long and 4–10 cm across, with wavy margins, toothed above the middle; colour turns rich purple to brilliant red in autumn.
• Flowers are less than 7 mm across, no petals but with small with red anthers forming conspicuous clusters; they are produced in late winter like the witch-hazels, on bare stems, but differ in having only four rounded sepals and no petals.
• Buds are naked, mounted on short stems, distinctly in one plane, looking like small, folded leaves.
• Bark is gray-brown, exfoliating (shedding in patches).