Common hazel
Corylus avellana
Even though it's still winter outside, many trees are already in bloom. One of them is the hazelnut tree, which delights us with its fruits - hazelnuts - in early autumn.
Common hazel is one of the most common shrub species in Slovenia.
It is most abundant in lowlands, forest edges, clearings, glades, pastures, deciduous and mixed forests.
It thrives up to an altitude of 1000m, rarely growing higher. It is a light-loving species and cannot tolerate heavy shade.
In the forest, it prevents soil erosion and drying out, and improves soil composition with its fallen leaves. It plays an important role at the forest edge, where it protects the forest from windthrows.
Hazel is a pioneer species and overgrows abandoned farmland.
- A deciduous shrub with a dense and branched canopy, it grows up to 8 m tall.
- It has a shallow root system.
- The bark is smooth and grey with many white lenticels - permeable places on the bark where air enters the interior of the plant.
- The leaves are roundish with a double serrated edge. The upper side is darker than the underside, where the convex veins are clearly visible. There are hairs along the veins.
- It blooms before it sheds its leaves.
- The male flowers are catkins (elongated inflorescences) which develop in summer and overwinter. They open in early spring.
- The female flowers are hidden in flower buds from which small red stigmas emerge.
- It flowers from February to April, in favourable conditions as early as January. The pollen is dispersed by the wind.
- The pollinated female flowers give rise to hazelnuts, which grow in clusters of 1 to 5 together. The hazelnuts are nuts up to 2 cm long, in some cases up to 2,5 cm if growing conditions are favourable. When ripe, they fall off immediately.
- Hazelnuts can be used to make many dishes and are eaten by many animals.
- Hazelnut leaves are food for the caterpillars of many butterflies.
- Man uses hazel wood to make baskets, rakes, baskets, firewood and more.
- The best charcoal for drawing with is hazel!
- Unfortunately, many people are allergic to hazel pollen, as it makes them tear, sniffle and sneeze.
DID YOU KNOW?
- The largest hazelnuts can be up to 4 cm in size.
- Turkey is the country that produces the most hazelnuts, accounting for more than 70% of the world market.
- The most famous hazelnut-flavoured spread is Nutella, and the French are the world's most popular.
