Corylus avellana

Corylus avellana, also known as the Common Hazel, is a species of hazel native to Europe and western Asia. It is a deciduous shrub that can reach heights of up to 12 meters. The leaves are rounded and have a double-serrate margin. The flowers are produced very early in spring before the leaves, and are monoecious, with single-sex wind-pollinated catkins.

Description

Corylus avellana is a multi-stemmed shrub with a broad, spreading habit. The bark is smooth and gray-brown. The leaves are alternate, rounded, 6-12 cm long and wide, softly hairy on both sides, and with a double-serrate margin. The flowers are produced in early spring, before the leaves, and are monoecious, with single-sex wind-pollinated catkins.

Distribution and habitat

Corylus avellana is native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles south to Iberia, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, north to central Scandinavia, and east to the central Ural Mountains, the Caucasus, and northwestern Iran. It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including woodland, scrub, and hedgerows.

Uses

The nuts of Corylus avellana are edible and are commonly known as hazelnuts. They are harvested commercially for their high oil content. The wood is also used for a variety of purposes, including furniture and fencing.

Cultivation

Corylus avellana is widely cultivated for its nuts. The main producers are located in Europe, Turkey, and the United States. The tree is easy to grow, with few pests or diseases, and is tolerant of a range of soil types.

See also

• Hazel
• List of hazelnut diseases

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  Corylus avellana

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  Hazelnut in blossom

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  Harry Lauder, full-length portrait, in costume

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  Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) - whole with kernels