Hazel
| Hazels | |
|---|---|
| |
| Common hazel (Corylus avellana) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Betulaceae |
| Subfamily: | Coryloideae |
| Genus: | Corylus L. |
| Type species | |
L.
| |
| Species | |
|
See text for species. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Lopima Dochnahl | |
Hazels are plants of the genus Corylus of
Hazels have simple, rounded
The shape and structure of the
The pollen of hazel species, which are often the cause for allergies in late winter or early spring, can be identified under magnification (600×) by their characteristic granular
Species
Corylus has around 14–18 species. The circumscription of species in
Only those taxa accepted by both sources are listed below.[9][10][11]
The species are grouped as follows:
- Nut surrounded by a soft, leafy involucre, multiple-stemmed, suckering shrubsto 12 m tall
- Involucre short, about the same length as the nut
- Corylus americana – American hazel, eastern North America
- western Asia
- Corylus heterophylla – Asian hazel, Asia
- Corylus yunnanensis – Yunnan hazel, central and southern China
- Involucre long, twice the length of the nut or more, forming a 'beak'
- Corylus colchica – Colchican filbert, Caucasus
- Corylus cornuta – Beaked hazel, North America
- southwest Asia
- northeastern Asia and Japan(syn. C. mandshurica)
- Involucre short, about the same length as the nut
- Nut surrounded by a stiff, spiny involucre, single-stemmed trees to 20–35 m tall
- Involucre moderately spiny and also with glandular hairs
- Corylus chinensis – Chinese hazel, western China
- Asia Minor
- Corylus fargesii – Farges' hazel, western China
- Himalaya
- southwest China
- Involucre densely spiny, resembling a chestnut burr
- Corylus ferox – Himalayan hazel, Himalaya, Tibet and southwest China (syn. C. tibetica).
- Involucre moderately spiny and also with glandular hairs
Several hybrids exist, and they can occur between species in different sections of the genus, e.g. Corylus × colurnoides (C. avellana × C. colurna). The oldest confirmed hazel species is Corylus johnsonii found as fossils in the Ypresian-age rocks of Ferry County, Washington.[12]
Chilean hazel (
Ecology
At least 21 species of fungus have a mutualistic relationship with hazel. Lactarius pyrogalus grows almost exclusively on hazel, and hazel is one of two kinds of host for the rare Hypocreopsis rhododendri. Several rare species of Graphidion lichen depend on hazel trees. In the UK, five species of moth are specialised to feed on hazel including Parornix devoniella. Animals which eat hazelnuts include red deer, dormouse and red squirrel.[14]
Uses
The nuts of all hazels are edible. The
A number of cultivars of the common hazel and filbert are grown as ornamental plants in gardens, including forms with contorted stems (C. avellana 'Contorta', popularly known as "Corkscrew hazel" or "Harry Lauder's walking stick" from its gnarled appearance); with weeping branches (C. avellana 'Pendula'); and with purple leaves (C. maxima 'Purpurea').
Hazel is a traditional material used for making wattle, withy fencing, baskets, and the frames of coracle boats. The tree can be coppiced,[15] and regenerating shoots allow for harvests every few years. There is a 7 year cycle (cut and grow) for hurdle (fence) making.[16]
Hazels are used as food plants by the larvae of various species of Lepidoptera. Including Eriocrania chrysolepidella.[17]
Culture
The Celts believed hazelnuts gave one wisdom and inspiration. There are numerous variations on an ancient tale that nine hazel trees grew around a sacred pool, dropping into the water nuts that were eaten by
"The Hazel Branch" from Grimms' Fairy Tales claims that hazel branches offer the greatest protection from snakes and other things that creep on the earth. In the Grimm tale "Cinderella", a hazel branch is planted by the protagonist at her mother's grave and grows into a tree that is the site where the girl's wishes are granted by birds.[19]
Gallery
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Form (Farges' hazel) -
Male catkins (common hazel) -
Female flower (common hazel) -
Leaves and nuts with spiny husks (Turkish hazel) -
Hazelnuts -
Closeup of a male hazelnut flower using autofluorescence microscopy.
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References
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Germplasmgobills Information Network: Corylus Archived 2009-01-14 at the Wayback Machine
- PMID 10449397.
- ^ ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
- OCLC 103403.
- ^ Erdogan, V.; Mehlenbacher, S. A. (2002). "Phylogenetic analysis of hazelnut species (Corylus, Corylacae) based on morphology and phenology". Sist. Bot. Dergisi. 9: 83–100.
- S2CID 4077214.
- ^ "Corylus L." Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Corylus in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ Flora of North America: Corylus
- S2CID 19802370.
- ISBN 978-1-85623-342-2.
- ^ Trees for Life - Hazel
- ^ "Coppicing". Small Woods. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "TYPES OF WOODLAND MANAGEMENT". Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Paracrania chrysolepidella [Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae] in Leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects". www.ukflymines.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ Floriz: Mythology and Folklore of the Hazel Tree Archived 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pitt.edu https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm021.html June 1, 2011
External links
- Eichhorn, Markus (December 2010). "The Hazel Tree". Test Tube. Brady Haran for the University of Nottingham.