American hazel (Corylus americana)
Family: Betulaceae
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| Form:
A large shrub ranging from 3 to 10 feet in height. It has a straight trunk with spreading, rising branches. |
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Leaves: Shape: oval with a cordate base Margin: doubly serrate Texture: pubescent below Variation: parallel |
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| Bark:
It has smooth and light gray bark. |
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| Twigs and Buds:
Twigs are slender with stiff red hairs and buds are somewhat flat topped. |
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| Flowers and Fruit:
Monoecious with males flowers appearing as brown catkins and female flowers smaller, appearing as reddish threads coming from gray to brown buds. Brown nuts enclosed in a hairy, leafy husk with rough edges, mature in the late summer. |
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| Distinguishing Characteristics:
Pubescent stems, doubly serrate leaves, with pubescent leaves and is a colonial species |
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| Range:
Occurs from Maine to Saskatchewan, south to eastern Oklahoma, to Georgia, and north through New England |
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| Silvics:
Tolerant. Occurs along streams, meadows, woodlands, roadsides. It grows best on rich, moist, well-drained soils |
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| Ecological and Cultural Importance:
The leaves and nuts are browsed by birds, squirrels, and deer. The nuts were also used to flavor soups by the Native Americans. It has been used as an ornamental since the late 1700’s. |
