Corylus chinensis

Corylus chinensis, common names Chinese filbert and Chinese hazel, is a deciduous tree native to western China. This tree is considered vulnerable due to its rarity.

Description

A spreading tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 20 m tall. It spreads 5 m wide. The bark is grey-brown and has cracks along it. The leaves are simple and oval. They are heart shaped at the base. The male flowers are like catkins and these grow 5 cm long. They hang down. The female catkins are small and red.

Edible Uses

The seed can be eaten raw or cooked and is rich in oil. A shrub at Kew measured 2 metres tall and 2 metres wide in July 1996 and carried a reasonable crop of immature fruit. The seed ripens in mid to late autumn and will likely need protection from squirrels. Stored unshelled in a cool place, nuts keep for at least 12 months. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.

Traditional Uses

The nuts are eaten raw. The fruit are used for making pastries. The leaves are used for tea.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests on moist mountain slopes between 1200–3500 m altitude in China. It does best in a cool temperate. It is resistant to frost but damaged by drought. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China*, Himalayas, Tasmania, Tibet,

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones. Does well in a loamy soil. Very suitable for an alkaline soil, but it dislikes very acid soils. Plants are fairly wind tolerant. Once established, this species is drought resistant. It does not produce suckers. A very ornamental tree, it is closely allied to C. colurna. It has become very rare in China where it is considered to be at risk of extintion. Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame, germinating in late winter or spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked in warm water for 48 hours, then given 2 weeks of warm stratification followed by 3–4 months of cold stratification; it germinates in 1–6 months at 20°C. When large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on in a cold frame or sheltered spot outdoors through their first winter, then plant out in late spring or early summer. Layering in autumn is easy and takes about 6 months. Division of suckers in early spring is very easy; divisions can be planted straight into permanent positions.

Other Uses

An oil is obtained from the seed.

Production

They are fast growing. In Yunnan fruit are harvested in September and October.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 15 Corylus species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Jilizi

References (18)

• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 94 (As Corylus colurna var. chinensis)
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 287
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 82
• Gouldstone, S., 1978, Australian and New Zealand Guide to food bearing plants. Books for Pleasure. p 57 (As Corylus colurna var. chinensis)
• Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 338

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