# beaked hazelnut (*Corylus cornuta*) The beaked hazelnut is a special shrub with long, pointy nuts that look like little beaks! It grows in forests and is loved by animals for its tasty nuts. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Forests ![beaked hazelnut](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Corylus_cornuta.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corylus_cornuta.jpg) ## Appearance The beaked hazelnut is a multi-stemmed shrub with rounded, toothed leaves. It features distinctive nuts encased in a leafy, tube-like husk that extends into a 'beak,' giving it its name. The husks are green, turning brown as the nuts ripen. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Betulaceae - **Genus:** Corylus ## Interesting facts - Even before leaves appear, the male catkins release clouds of yellow pollen into the spring breeze! - Hazelnut wood is sometimes used for making small tools, fishing rods, or even walking sticks! - Indigenous peoples traditionally used its flexible stems for weaving strong baskets and crafts! - The 'beak' on its nut husks can be up to twice as long as the tasty nut inside! ## Special abilities - **Nut Nest Protection:** Beaked hazelnut has a long, tubular husk that completely encases its nuts, protecting them from hungry animals until ripe. - **Early Spring Pollinator:** It produces long, dangling catkins in very early spring, releasing pollen into the wind before its leaves even appear. - **Soil Stabilizer Roots:** Its fibrous root system helps anchor soil on slopes and disturbed areas, preventing erosion. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-400 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Caches and consumes its nutritious nuts. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses its leaves and young twigs. - **Eaten by:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — Forages for fallen nuts and catkins. - **Eaten by:** [California Scrub-Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-scrub-jay) (*Aphelocoma californica*) — Disperses and eats its tasty nuts. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching plants, as some may not be safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify beaked hazelnut? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is beaked hazelnut? 100-500 cm ### How wide does beaked hazelnut spread? 100-400 cm ### When does beaked hazelnut bloom? Early spring ### Is beaked hazelnut edible? Yes ### Is beaked hazelnut toxic? None ### What is beaked hazelnut's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is beaked hazelnut pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Rogerson's Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rogersons-village-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Black Mountain Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-mountain-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Cascades Raptor Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cascades-raptor-center) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [McIntyre Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcintyre-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Shenipsit State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shenipsit-state-forest) — Connecticut, US · Forest [View all places to see beaked hazelnut](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/beaked-hazelnut) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Beaked Hazelnut: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/beaked-hazelnut)