Beaked hazel

Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta) is a species of hazel native to North America. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 3–5 m tall, with stems covered in brown to gray-brown bark. The leaves are rounded to oblong, 5–11 cm long and 3–8 cm broad, with a coarsely double-serrated margin and an often truncated base. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins, produced in late winter. The fruit is a nut, produced in clusters of 1–5 together; each nut is enclosed in a long, tubular involucre (husk), 2–3 cm long and 1–2 cm broad, open at the end. The nut is edible, but much smaller than the common hazel nut.

Taxonomy

The beaked hazel is a member of the genus Corylus in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hornbeams, and birches. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The specific epithet cornuta is Latin for "horned", referring to the long, beak-like involucre of the nut.

Distribution and habitat

Beaked hazel is found across much of North America, from Alaska and Canada south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Georgia. It grows in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and scrubland, and is often found in the understory of coniferous forests.

Uses

The nuts of the beaked hazel are edible and were traditionally used as a food source by various Native American tribes. The wood is hard and durable, and can be used for making small items such as tool handles and fishing rods.

Conservation

While the beaked hazel is not currently considered threatened, it is susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including the eastern filbert blight and various insects and fungi.

See also

• List of Corylus species
• Hazel