| American Hazelnut, an uncommon large shrub with coarsely toothed, deciduous, alternate leaves, is found throughout North Carolina except in the lower Coastal Plain. It grows in a variety of habitats, but is most common in rocky woodlands with basic soil. Similar species are the Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta var. cornuta) and young Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.
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| Note the distinctive stipitate glands on the petiole and stem, which are lacking on Beaked Hazelnut. Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.
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| Detail of the stipitate glands. Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.
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| Leaf underside and upperside detail. The leaves are densely hairy. Vance Co., NC 5/20/10.
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| Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| The edible nuts, also called filberts, ripen in late fall. Durham Co., NC 7/4/03.
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| American Hazelnut has relatively flat, fringed involucral bracts (surrounding the nut) and stipitate-glandular petioles and twigs. The similar Beaked Hazelnut (C. cornuta) has a long, tubular beak surrounding the nut and villous (finely soft-hairy) perioles and young twigs. Carroll Co., VA 7/27/03.
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| Long catkins (male flower clusters) appear in early spring. Durham Co., NC 3/1/08.
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| Catkins. Durham Co., NC 3/20/10.
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| Female flowers are very small and not showy. Here the reddish styles of a female flower are emerging from a bud. Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.
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| Bud detail. Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.
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| Elongating catkins and (if you look closely) tiny reddish female flowers. Durham Co., NC 3/1/08.
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| An inconspicuous reddish female flower in full bloom. Durham Co., NC 3/1/08.
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| Bark detail of a medium-sized shrub. Durham Co., NC 3/1/08.
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More information:
Natural History of the Northwoods
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides
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