Envoy at 04:44, 1 August 2007

2007-08-01T04:44:15Z

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{{Unreferenced|date=March 2007}}

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Common Hazel
| status =

secure
| image = Corylus avellana.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Common Hazel leaves and nuts
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Hazel|Corylus]]''
| species = '''''C. avellana'''''
| binomial = ''Corylus avellana''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

[[Image:Hazel Catkins aka.jpg|left|thumb|Male catkins on Common Hazel]]
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The '''Common Hazel''' (''Corylus avellana'') is a species of [[hazel]] native to [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. It is typically a [[shrub]] reaching 3-8 m tall, but can reach 15 m. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], rounded, 6-12 cm long and across, softly hairy on both surfaces, and with a double-serrate margin.

The [[flower]]s are produced very early in spring before the leaves and are [[plant sexuality|monoecious]], with single-sex [[catkin]]s, the male pale yellow and 5-12 cm long, the female very small and largely concealed in the [[bud]]s, with only the bright red 1-3 mm long [[Carpel|style]]s visible. The [[fruit]] is a [[nut (fruit)|nut]], produced in clusters of one to five together, each nut held in a short leafy [[involucre]] ('husk') which encloses about three quarters of the nut. The nut is roughly [[spherical]] to oval, 15-25 mm long and 12-20 mm broad, yellow-brown with a pale [[scar]] at the base. The nut falls out of the [[involucre]] when ripe, about 7-8 months after [[pollination]]. It is readily distinguished from the closely related [[Filbert]] (''Corylus maxima'') by the short involucre; in the Filbert the nut is fully enclosed by a beak-like involucre longer than the nut.

Common Hazel is used by a number of species of [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Hazels|Lepidoptera]] as a food plant. See [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Hazels]].

The name of the [[species]], ''avellana'' is derived from Avellino, a place in [[Italy]].

===Cultivation and uses===
[[Image:2005hazelnut.PNG|thumb|right|Hazelnut output in 2005]]
The Common Hazel is an important component of the [[hedgerow]]s that were the traditional field boundaries in lowland [[England]]. The [[wood]] was traditionally grown as [[coppice]], the poles cut being used for [[wattle-and-daub]] building and agricultural [[fence|fencing]].
[[Image:Hazel Flower Female.jpg|left|thumb|Female flower on Common hazel, [[Wales]] [[February 20]] [[2005]]]]

Common Hazel is cultivated for its nuts in [[commerce|commercial]] [[orchard]]s in [[Turkey]], [[Italy]] and [[Caucasus]]. The name "hazelnut" applies to the nuts of any of the species of the genus ''Corylus''. This hazelnut or cobnut, the [[seed|kernel]] of the [[seed]], is edible and used raw or roasted, or ground into a [[paste]]. The seed has a thin, dark brown skin which has a [[basic taste#Bitterness|bitter]] flavor and is sometimes removed before cooking. The top producer of hazelnuts, by a large margin, is Turkey, specifically the [[Ordu Province]]. Turkish hazelnut production of 625,000 [[tonne]]s accounts for approximately 75% of worldwide production.<ref>''World Hazelnut Situation and Outlook'', USDA 2004</ref>
[[Image:Hazelnuts.jpg|thumb|right|Hazelnuts]]

In the [[United States]], hazelnut production is concentrated in two states, [[Oregon]] and [[Washington]]; however, they are also grown extensively just to the north, in the [[Fraser Valley]] of [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]. In [[1996]] the production in Oregon was about 38,800 [[short ton|ton]]s (in shell) compared to 200 tons in Washington<ref>[http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/fruit/zfp-bb/hazl0896.txt Hazelnut Production (8/26/96), USDA NSS report]</ref>. Recent orchard plantings in [[California]] are likely to increase production in the USA. The hazelnut is also growing in popularity in the USA with a Hazelnut Council set up to promote its use. The harvesting of hazelnuts is either by hand in rural communities, or by manual or mechanical raking of fallen nuts.

Hazelnuts are extensively used in [[confectionery]] to make [[praline]] and also used in combination with [[chocolate]] for chocolate [[truffle]]s and products such as [[Nutella]]. In the USA, [[Nut butter|hazelnut butter]] is being promoted as a more nutritious spread than its [[peanut butter]] counterpart, though it has a higher fat content. In [[Austria]] and especially in [[Wien|Vienna]] hazelnut paste is an important ingredient in the world famous ''torts'' (such as Viennese hazelnut tort) which are made there. [[Vodka]]-based Hazelnut [[liqueur]]s, such as [[Frangelico]], are also increasing in popularity, especially in the U.S. and eastern [[Europe]].
[[Image:Haselnuss Gr 99.jpg|thumb|right|Hazelnuts, with shell (left), without shell (right)]]

Hazelnut is popular as a coffee flavoring, especially in the form of Hazelnut [[latte]]. Hazelnut-flavored coffee seems (to many users) to be slightly sweetened and less acidic, even though the nut is low in natural saccharides{{Fact|date=July 2007}}. The reason for such perception is not yet understood, but might be due to synergistic interaction with components of coffee.

[[Image:Illustration Corylus avellana0.jpg|thumb|left|Common Hazel - from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'', 1885]]
In [[Australia]] over 2000 tonnes are imported [[annually]]<ref>http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/deciduous-fruits/h3149-hazelnut-production.htm</ref> mostly to supply the demand from the [[Cadbury-Schweppes|Cadbury]] company for inclusion in its [[eponym]]ous milk chocolate bar which is the third most popular brand in Australia{{Fact|date=July 2007}}. Hazelnut [[vegetable oil|oil]], pressed from hazelnuts, is strongly flavored and used as a [[cooking]] oil. Hazelnuts are also grown extensively in Australia in orchards growing varieties mostly imported from [[Europe]].

{{nutritionalvalue | name=Hazelnuts (edible parts) | kJ=2629 | protein=15 g | fat=61 g | carbs=17 g | fibre=10 g | segars=4 g | satfat=4 g | monofat=46 g | polyfat=8 g | calcium_mg=114 | iron_mg=4.7 | potassium_mg=680 | phosphorus_mg=290 | thiamin_mg=0.6 | riboflavin_mg=0.11 | niacin_mg=1.8 | vitB6_mg=0.6 | folate_ug=113 | right=1 | source_usda=1 }}

Hazelnuts are rich in [[protein]] and [[unsaturated fat]]. Moreover, they contain significant amounts of [[thiamine]] and [[vitamin B6]], as well as smaller amounts of other B vitamins. Additionally, for those persons who need to restrict [[carbohydrate]]s, 1 cup (237 ml) of hazelnut flour has 20 g of carbohydrates, 12 g [[fibre]], for less than 10 net carbohydrates.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-All-Natural-Hazelnut/dp/B000EDI2N0#nutrition-facts Nutrition Facts, Bob's Red Mill All-Natural Hazelnut Meal/Flour (Amazon.com)]</ref>

There are many [[cultivar]]s of the Hazel, including 'Barcelona', 'Butler', 'Casina', 'Clark' 'Cosford', 'Daviana', 'Delle Langhe', 'England', 'Ennis', Fillbert, 'Halls Giant', 'Jemtegaard',Kent Cob, 'Lewis', 'Tokolyi', 'Tonda Gentile', 'Tonda di Giffoni', 'Tonda Romana', 'Wanliss Pride', and 'Willamette'. Some of these are grown for specific qualities of the nut including early and late fruiting cultivars, whereas other are gown as pollinators. The majority of commercial Hazelnuts are grown as [[grafting|grafts]] onto stock of the [[Turkish Hazel]] (''Corylus colurna''), because of its non [[Basal shoot|suckering]] habit.

Primitive archers have also used the wood of the hazelnut in the making of arrows. The fine grain and tendency to grow with fairly straight shoots makes them suitable shaft material.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}

===Harvesting===
Hazelnuts are harvested annually between the months of September and October. As fall comes to a close, the trees drop their nuts and leaves. Most commercial growers wait for the nuts to drop on their own, rather than use equipment to shake them from the tree.

There are three primary pieces of equipment used in commercial harvesting; the sweeper, the harvester, and the forklift. The sweeper centralizes the material into rows, the harvester lifts and separates the nuts from the debris, and the forklift hauls the nuts away for processing.
[[Image:redsweeper.jpg|thumb|left|A sweeper makes its first pass as it centralizes the material on the orchard floor]]
The sweeper is a low-to-the-ground tractor that makes multiple passes up and down the rows with a 6 foot belt attached to the front that sweeps leaves, nuts, and small twigs from left to right, depositing the material in a row as it drives forward. On the rear of the tractor is a powerful blower that pushes material left into the adjacent row with wind speeds up to 200 mph. Careful grooming during the year and patient blowing at harvest can eliminate the need for hand raking around the trunk of the tree where nuts can accumulate. The sweeper will prepare two rows at a time as it goes up and down the rows. After its final pass, all the material on the ground has been deposited in two foot wide rows for the harvester to process. It is best to only sweep a few rows ahead of the harvesters at any given time, as the rows are susceptible to moisture and parasites over time.

[[Image:hazelnutharvester.jpg|thumb|right|A Hazelnut farmer inspects the row for unwanted debris as he drives over it with the harvester]]
The harvester is a slow moving machine that lifts the material off the ground and separates the nuts from the leaves, empty husks, and small twigs. As the harvester drives over the rows, a fast spinning cylinder with hundreds of tines rakes the material onto a belt. The belt takes the material over a blower and under a powerful vacuum that sucks the light weight dirt and leaves off the nuts and discharges it into the orchard. The remaining nuts are conveyed into a tote box.

Once a box fills with nuts, a third tractor will haul away full boxes and bring empties to the harvester to minimize time spent not collecting nuts.

There are two different timing strategies for collecting the fallen nuts. The first option is to harvest early when only half of the nuts have fallen. With less material on the ground, the machines can work much faster and are less subject to breakdown. The other option is to wait for all the nuts to fall and go over the crop once. The first option is easier, but takes longer to perform with two passes.

Ideally, the orchard should not be so dry that an abundance of dust can reduce vision and equipment efficiency. Conversely if it is too wet, mud cakes in the machinery and moisture weighs down the material, making it more difficult to lift and separate.

===Diseases===
{{Main|List of hazelnut diseases}}

==Trivia==
The [[Norway|Norwegian]] municipality of [[Hemne]] has five hazelnuts in its [[coat of arms]].

The [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Squirrel Girl]] has lips that taste like hazelnuts.

In parts of SE England a "Nut Orchard" is called a PLATT.

[[Orduspor]] football (soccer) team's logo is a triple hazelnut husk.

==References==
<small><references/></small>

==External links==
*[http://www.hazelnutcouncil.org/ Hazelnut Council]
*[http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.hazel.html Hazel species profile] on the Scottish [[Trees for Life (Scotland)|Trees for Life]] website

{{Commons|Corylus avellana}}

[[Category:Betulaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]
[[Category:Symbols of Oregon|Hazelnut]]

Common Hazel - Revision history

Envoy at 04:44, 1 August 2007