Corylus heterophylla

{{Short description|Species of tree}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Speciesbox

|name = Asian hazel

|image=Corylus heterophylla.JPG

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|genus = Corylus

|species = heterophylla

|authority = Fisch. ex Trautv.

}}

Corylus heterophylla, the Asian hazel, is a species of hazel native to eastern Asia in northern and central China, Korea, Japan, and southeastern Siberia.Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006214 Corylus heterophylla]

Description

It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, with stems up to {{convert|20|cm|0|abbr=on}} thick grey bark. The leaves are rounded, {{convert|4|–|13|cm|frac=4|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2.5|–|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} broad, with a coarsely double-serrated to somewhat lobed margin and an often truncated apex. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins; the male (pollen) catkins are pale yellow, {{convert|4|cm|frac=4|abbr=on}} long, while the female catkins are bright red and only {{convert|1|–|3|mm|frac=16|abbr=on}} long. The fruit is a nut produced in clusters of 2–6 together; each nut is {{convert|0.7|–|1.5|cm|frac=4|abbr=on}} diameter, partly enclosed in a {{convert|1.5|–|2.5|cm|frac=4|abbr=on}} long, bract-like involucre (husk).Bean, W. J. (1976). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 1. John Murray {{ISBN|0-7195-1790-7}}.

It is very similar to the closely related common hazel (C. avellana) of Europe and western Asia, differing in the leaves being somewhat more lobed.

Uses

The nut is edible, and is very similar to the common hazel nut; it is cultivated commercially in China.

References