239 



THE HAZEL. 



CORYLUS AVELLANA. 



Natural Order AMENTACEJE. 

 Class MoNfficiA. Order POLYANDRIA. 



ALTHOUGH the Hazel never acquires the full dimensions 

 of a tree, it gives so decided a character to most of our 

 woods and hedges, that it requires a specific notice among 

 our most remarkable forest-trees. It possesses, too, a pecu- 

 liar claim on our attention from being the only British 

 tree which in its wild state produces edible fruit. 



The tree described by Pliny, under the name of Avellana 

 or Abellina, appears to have been the variety familiar with 

 us by the name of Spanish-nut. It was introduced, he 

 says, into Greece from Pontus, whence it was called the 

 Pontic-nut, Avellana being a provincial term derived from 

 the place where it was extensively planted, now called 

 Avellino, a city of Naples. The wild European Hazel he 

 does not mention, although several modern authors quote 

 from him passages which refer not to this tree but to the 

 Walnut. The nuts sent by Jacob as a present to his son 

 Joseph in Egypt were in all probability Pistachio-nuts, a 

 kind of fruit which may justly be reckoned among the 

 finest productions of Palestine, and therefore well worthy 

 of being associated with the other offerings. They are 

 about the size of the Hazel-nut, but of an oblong, angular 

 form ; the kernel is of a peculiar greenish colour, and, 

 though somewhat oily, has a very agreeable taste. All 

 the Eastern versions of the Bible render the passage 

 (Genesis xliii. 11) by Pistachio-nuts. 



The Hazel was considered by the Romans as injurious 

 to the Vine, and was not allowed to be planted in the 

 vineyard. In the rustic festivals of the same people the 

 goat, which was also an enemy to the Vine by browsing 



