hazel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hazelnut
• European filbert
• European hazel
• European hazelnut
• Hazel
• Common hazel
• Cobnut
• Barcelona-nuts
• filbert
• giant filbert

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fagales and the family Betulaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Corylus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Corylus avellana, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. The species also extends its range to the islands of Føroyar. Additionally, its presence is well-documented across the terrain of Great Britain. Finally, the plant is distributed throughout the various regions of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Corylus avellana is primarily defined by its preference for temperate woodland environments, where it thrives within the sheltered structures of forests and along forest edges. As a shade-tolerant species, it plays a vital role in the successional dynamics of these ecosystems, often occupying the understory or the transitional zones between dense canopy cover and open clearings. By inhabiting forest edges, the plant benefits from increased light availability while remaining protected by the buffering effects of the surrounding woodland, which helps maintain necessary moisture levels and soil stability. Its presence in these habitats contributes to the structural complexity of the forest, providing essential cover and nutritional resources within the woodland community.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges

Life history

The life history of Corylus avellana is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons to establish a robust presence in its habitat. As a phanerophyte, it develops significant woody structures that elevate its photosynthetic organs above the ground level, though it can also exhibit characteristics consistent with a nanophanerophyte depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, which plays a critical role in its survival strategy and nutrient cycling within its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Corylus avellana is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing behavior. In terms of stature, it reaches a minimum height of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 2.833 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

2.833 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Corylus avellana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the enzyme Rubisco, typical of most temperate deciduous woody species. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrients rather than capturing prey to supplement its nitrogen intake. Its foliage is characterized by a mean leaf size of approximately 32.4914 cm², reflecting an evolutionary adaptation to temperate light and moisture availability. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 194.4 cm²/g, a physiological metric that indicates the efficiency of its leaf mass distribution and its capacity for light interception and gas exchange relative to its structural biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

32.4914 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

194.4 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Corylus avellana is characterized by a sexual process that is monoecious in nature, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically commences in February and concludes in April. The plant utilizes an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on wind for the transfer of pollen. Regarding its reproductive success, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. The fruit produced is classified as an achene, which is indehiscent. The seeds within the plant exhibit a mean mass of approximately 1.06265125 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.63737 g to a maximum of 2.1 g; notably, the plant can produce a high volume of seeds, with counts exceeding 1000 per fruit. Dispersal is categorized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning it is frequently dispersed by human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed mass max:

2.1 g

Seed mass mean:

1.06265125 g

Seed mass min:

0.63737 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Corylus avellana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Corylus avellana has 120 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Baccatin III, Myricitrin, TAXOL, paclitaxel, quercetin.

Baccatin III

1. AMB Express
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
3. Journal of natural products

Myricitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

TAXOL

1. AMB Express
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

paclitaxel

1. AMB Express
2. Journal of natural products

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

quercitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

(+)-Catechin-7-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside

1. Dr. Duke

10-Deacetylbaccatin III

1. Journal of natural products

5-Dehydro-avenasterol

1. Dr. Duke

7-Epipaclitaxel

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Corylus avellana has 528 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Acnegenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Corylus avellana has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, Listeria monocytogenes, wounds.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations