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The California hazelnut is a woody shrub of the birch family that is
1 to 4 meters tall (sources vary on this point – with one stating that
it can grow to 8 meters).Leaves
are all alternate and deciduous, and distinctive among coastal trees with
their pronounced crinkly vein pattern, simple elliptic to ovate shape and
saw-toothed margins. One or both sexes of flowers are in catkins, with
a woody fruit being produced.
The beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) is also known as Corylus
californica.Hazelnuts, also
known as filberts, have been a favorite food of many Native American tribes
of the Pacific Northwest long before the arrival of the first Europeans.They
are one of the few seeds eaten traditionally by northwest coast peoples.They
are harvested in early autumn, stored until fully ripe, and then eaten
raw or roasted.Sporadic distribution
often meant that people had to travel to obtain them and they were an occasional
trade item.Hazelnuts were sometimes
buried in damp ground for a few weeks to allow the prickly husks to rot
away.Some people gathered them from
the winter caches of squirrels.In
some areas, the plants were burned to the ground to enhance productivity.The
long, flexible shoots were twisted into rope (Pojar 94).
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var. californica: California Hazelnut General: 1-4 m tall, with many stems; twigs, leaves, and bud scales covered in long white hairs (i.e., hirsute) (at least when young); hairless after first season; densely clumped or spreading widely by suckers. Flowers: Male (i.e., staminate) flowers in pendant catkins.Very small female (i.e., pistillate) catkins with two protruding red stigmas each at the joints of stems. Blooms: February - April. Leaves: Alternate, elliptic to ovate, slightly notched (i.e., heart-shaped) base, fuzzy with saw-toothed margins. Fruit: Spherical, edible nuts in woody shells enclosed in a light-green, tubular husk with stiff, prickly hairs; about 15mm long; sometimes paired at base.The husks extend beyond the nut into “beaks” and are in clusters of two or three at the ends of branches. Habitat: Sporadic distribution from British Columbia to California, on both sides of Cascades, and east to Idaho.More widespread at lower elevations on well-drained soil. Status:Native – Common. |
Corylus cornutavar. californica For additional information and more pictures try this site: http://www.bahiker.com/ |
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Further description & Comment: This particular specimen of Corylus cornuta var. californica is located between the gymnasium and Lake Waughop on the Fort Steilacoom campus of Pierce College.There are no other California Hazelnuts in its immediate vicinity.This photograph was taken in early November 2002. |
Betulaceae (Birch family)
In addition to the California hazelnut, other members of Betulaceae found around Lake Waughop and vicinity include red alder (Alnus rubra), Sitka alder (Alnus crispa), and paper birch (Betula papyrifera).The paper birch is also known as white birch or canoe birch.
Betulaceae (alders in particular) have complex
arrangements with bacteria and fungi for the delivery of nutrients through
their root systems.Mature stands
of alder and hazelnut are often good mushroom hunting areas.
Bibliography
POJAR, Jim, MacKINNON, A., and ALABACK, Paul B.Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. 1st ed.Renton. Washington: Lone Pine Publishing.1994.