Hazel
|
Botanical Name |
Corylus avellana |
|
Family |
Betulaceae |
|
Other Names |
Cobnut, filbert, hale, woodnut, |
|
Habitat |
Woods, hedgerows, scrubland |
|
Description |
Small tree/dense shrub up to 9m/30ft. Long straight flexible shoots. Comes into flower early- January /February. Yellow pollen. Deciduous. Leaves round-ish, downy, toothed. Fruit 1.2.5cm/ ½ - 1in long brown ovoid encased in green leafy cup August – November |
|
Part Used |
Wood, Fruit, leaves |
|
Constituents |
Leaves – flavonols |
|
Nutritional |
Hazelnut - Vitamin E, folate, calcium, magnesium iron, zinc |
|
Culinary Uses |
Nuts in salads etc Dried nuts in cakes, nut butters, spreads, nut roasts, nut burgers |
|
Skin |
Leaves – bruising, varicose veins |
|
Digestive |
Leaves – Diarrhoea |
|
Psychological |
Communication |
|
Other Notes |
Celtic tree of knowledge and wisdom Nuts are the food of gods Druid tree of inspiration It is used for divining or dowsing rods Lazdona - is the Baltic -Slavic Goddess of the Hazel Tree |