Beaked Hazelnut
nêhiyawêwin (Cree): pukānā(h)tik ("nut") <br/> Latin: <i>Corylus cornuta</i><br/>
(Banner Image) Cameron, C. (2019) The Go Botany project.
Description
The nuts have a beak-shaped projection that give this tree its name. It has smooth bark, coarsely toothed leaves, and catkins. The long catkins are male and the tiny catkins are female. (Marles et al., 2012)
The Beaked Hazelnut is native to the Prince Edward Island area and is their only nut-bearing native shrub. It's often found on the edges of forests or under maple, birch, and hardwoods. It prefers sun but will tolerate heavy shade from the surrounding trees. The calcium and manganese in its leaves help to fertilize nearby trees and plants. (Environmental Coalition of PEI)
Food
Hazelnut nuts are rich in protein and fat. The buds in winter and catkins in spring are a valuable protein source. (Environmental Coalition of PEI).
Other
The nuts can be made into a green dye. (Cree Elder in Marles et al., p. 150)
The bark can be made into a reddish brown dye for moose hide. (Métis Elder in Marles et al., p. 150)
References
(Banner Image) Cameron, C. (2019). Retrieved from https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/corylus/cornuta/.
Cree Elder, East-central Alberta region, AB. Interviewed 1994, published in Marles et al., 2012.
Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island. (Accessed Dec. 2019). Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project: Beaked Hazelnut. Retrieved from https://macphailwoods.org/nature-guides/shrubs/beaked-hazelnut/
Marles, R. J., Clavelle, C., Monteleone, L., Tays, N., and Burns, D. (2012). Aboriginal Plant Use in Canada's Northwest Boreal Forest. Edmonton, AB: Natural Resources Canada.
Métis Elder, Athabasca River region, AB. Interviewed 1994, published in Marles et al., 2012.