Relatives

Corylus colurna L.- Arboreous hazel, Turkish hazel.

Taxonomic position.

Family Betulaceae C.F.Gray., genus Corylus L.

Morphology and biology.

Tree up to 25-30 m tall, up to 1 m diameter with thick bark. Branches pubescent with glandular hairs. Buds oblong-ovate with reddish pubescent scales. Leaf petioles 1.5 times as long as leaves, glandulosly pubescent. Leaves rounded or ovate, 6-12 cm long and 4-10 cm wide, shortly acuminate at the apex, cordate at the base. Leaf margins with distinct unequal large teeth. Leaves dark green, dull above, pale beneath, pubescent with long non-glandular and glandular hairs. Staminate catkins up to 8 cm long. Several pistillate flowers and fruits condensed. Nut compressed laterally, covered with involucral leaves (husk) upper covered with hairs. Husk margins dissected into numerous narrow lobes. Anemophile. Zoochore. Flowers in March-April, fruits in August-September.

Distribution.

General distribution: Balkans, Caucasus, Iran, Asia Minor. In the former USSR: Caucasus . Northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia.

Ecology.

Occurs rarely at the altitude 600 to 1700 m s. m. in mixed broad-leaved oak-hornbeam and maple forests.

Use and economic value.

Beautiful ornamental plant for parks. Nuts edible, but thick hard shell makes it difficult for food use. Wood has beautiful pink tinge, dense and firm, used for furniture and other products.

References.

Sokolov SI., Svjaseva OA., Kubli VA. 1977. Ranges of trees and shrubs of the USSR. V.1. Leningrad: Nauka. P.111. (In Russian).
Grossgeim AA. 1949. Flora of Caucasus. V.2. Moscow; Leningrad. P.84. (In Russian).
Shishkin BK., ed. 1936. Flora URSS. V.5. Moscow; Leningrad. P.263-264. (In Russian).
Cherepanov SK. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR). St.Petersburg. 990 p. (In Russian).

© Smekalova T.N.

© Ushakova R.S.
 

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