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Hazel

The Hazel tree, known by its Latin name Corylus, which means helmet, refers to the cupula—a membranous, fringed bract surrounding the fruit. Until the 19th and even early 20th century, it was more commonly referred to as "coudrier" rather than "hazel" in both literary and popular language.

The tree has produced many cultivars in Europe and Turkey, selected from local wild hazel populations.

Hazelnuts, which Turkey specializes in growing, account for nearly three-quarters of the world's production. These small fruits are eaten dry and possess very interesting properties.

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Hazel is a very interesting tree for enriching biodiversity. Flowering early, it provides food for bees and wild pollinators even before the end of winter. It is an interesting species to plant in melliferous hedges or at the edges of woodlands, as it never grows so well as where herbaceous vegetation has first colonised bare soil.

Hazel - Overview

The hazeltree is a member of the Betulaceae family. This type of tree forms a clump of 10 to 12 trunks that can reach 2 to 5 metres in height. This is rare, but it can grow up to 8 metres.

It shares many similarities with the birch. Hazel is rarely taller than 3 metres and grows quite naturally in clumps. Hazel is distinguished by the shape of its oval, heavily veined leaves. Its flowers are male or female, measuring between 2 and 8 cm. They hang in off-white clusters. The female is easily recognised by the red ruff on top of the bud. This is where she captures the pollen grains released by the male flowers. Normally, female flowers do not allow themselves to be pollinated by male flowers on the same tree, which encourages cross-fertilisation. However, it has been observed that in certain regions where hazelnut trees are isolated, the female flower may allow itself to be pollinated by male pollen from the same tree, in order to produce fruit: hazelnuts.

The hazel tree produces fruit called hazelnuts. They are edible. They are generally eaten as dried fruit and are considered to be the most nutritious of the oilseeds. Rich in proteins, lipids and minerals, they also make an excellent oil, and are even used to make butter. They are rich in Omega 3, vitamins E and B, fibre, copper, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Some people are allergic to them, however, as well as to hazel pollen.

Hazel - Species requirements

The hazel tree prefers soil that is not too wet and not too heavy. It likes sunny exposures but can adapt to semi-shady exposures. It shares with its cousin the birch a good capacity to colonise the soil following a thinning, a clear cut, the opening of a clearing or a windfall. It is therefore very suitable for forest edges and undergrowth recommended for the formation of graded forest edges in forests. It sprouts when cut.

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Its wood has traditionally been used for basketry and cooperage, as well as for making canes, bundles and tool handles. Its wood is pinkish or pinkish-brown, supple and moderately hard and heavy. It is also used for fencing and plessage, a special form of pruning and weaving of living hedges to create a plant fence. This type of living barrier is reputed to be impenetrable.

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The hazel tree is a symbol of wisdom and justice, but also of life. Associated with white magic, it is even rumoured that witches fly away on a hazel broom.

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