Corylus avellana aka Common Hazel

Corylus avellana, commonly known as the common hazel or European hazel, is a small deciduous tree or large shrub native to Europe, western, and the British Isles. It is an important component of traditional field boundaries in lowland England and is cultivated for its nuts. The hazelnut, which is the kernel of the seed, is edible and can be consumed raw, roasted, or ground into a paste. The tree has an umbrella-shaped weeping habit, with young leaves opening dark purple and gradually fading to reddish-green. In autumn, the leaves turn dark yellow before falling. The European Hazel typically reaches a height of 3-8 meters, but can sometimes grow up to 15 meters. Its rounded leaves are softly hairy on both surfaces and have a double-serrate margin. The flowers bloom early in spring, prior to the emergence of leaves. The fruit is a roughly spherical to oval nut, enclosed by an outer fibrous husk. The nut, which falls out of the husk when ripe, is rich in protein, unsaturated fat, manganese, copper, vitamin E, thiamine, and magnesium. The scientific name avellana is derived from the town of Avella in Italy.