APETAL^ 257 



two stigmas are protruding, bright crimson. The 

 ovoid fruit is on a long branch, clustered, woody, with 

 a palmately lobed, unarmed bract or involucre, the 

 husk. It is bell-shaped and spreading. 



As a rule the Hazel is 6 to 20 ft. in height. It 

 flowers from February to May, and the fruit is 

 ripened in September and October. It is a perennial 

 deciduous tree. 



In some cases the anthers are ripe in advance of 

 the stigmas, in others the converse is the case, which 

 allows of cross-pollination. The half anthers in the 

 stamens are distinct, as though there were eight 

 stamens, not four, and they are enclosed in a three- 

 lobed scale, formed by a main and two lateral bracts. 



The nuts are dispersed by squirrels. 



There are a number of common names for the 

 Hazel, as Aglet, Beard Tree, Cat-o-nine-tails, Cats- 

 and-Kittens, Cat's-tail, Chats, Cob-nut, Crack-nut, 

 Filbeard, Filberd-tree, Filbert, Hale-nut, Halse, 

 Hasill-tree, Haselrys, Haul, Hazel, Hazel-palms, 

 Hezzle, Lamb's-tails, Leemers, Wood Nut, Nuttal- 

 tree, Nut-tree, Nut Bush, Nut Hall, Nut Palms, 

 Nut Rag, Palm, Pussy-cat's Tails, Rag. 



Hazel torches were burned in the days of the 

 Romans at weddings in the evenings to ensure a 

 peaceful and happy union. The Hazel was supposed 

 to have the power of discovering hidden treasure. 



Rhabdomancy or divining by the rod {Virgula 

 divina) is of ancient origin, and though many kinds 

 of trees have been used, the Hazel was the most 

 VOL. III. 17 



