Asian hazel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asian hazel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corylus
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| Species: |
heterophylla
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The Corylus heterophylla, also known as the Asian hazel, is a type of hazel plant. It grows naturally in eastern Asia. You can find it in northern and central China, Korea, Japan, and southeastern Siberia.
This plant is a deciduous shrub (a bushy plant) or a small tree. It can grow up to 7 m (23 ft) (about 23 feet) tall. Its main stems can be as thick as 20 cm (8 in) (about 8 inches) and have grey bark.
The leaves of the Asian hazel are round. They are usually 4–13 cm (1+1⁄2–5 in) long and 2.5–10 cm (1–4 in) wide. Their edges are often double-serrated (like tiny saw teeth) or slightly lobed. The tip of the leaf often looks like it's been cut straight across.
The flowers of this plant are called catkins. They are pollinated by the wind. The male catkins, which produce pollen, are pale yellow and about 4 cm (1+1⁄2 in) long. The female catkins are bright red and very small, only 1–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long.
The fruit of the Asian hazel is a nut. These nuts grow in groups of 2 to 6. Each nut is about 0.7–1.5 cm (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) across. They are partly covered by a special leaf-like part called an involucre (or husk), which is about 1.5–2.5 cm (1⁄2–1 in) long.
The Asian hazel looks a lot like the common hazel (C. avellana), which grows in Europe and western Asia. The main difference is that the Asian hazel's leaves are a bit more lobed.
What are Asian Hazelnuts Used For?
The nuts from the Asian hazel are safe to eat. They taste very similar to the nuts from the common hazel. In China, these nuts are grown on farms for people to buy and eat.
