THE HAZEL. 437 
resemblance both in size, colour, form, and vena- 
tion, to those of the Alder. The Hazel leaf is 
roundish,or somewhat broadly pear-shaped in form, 
having a wavy, somewhat irregular, and indented 
margin. The mid-stem continuing the leaf-stalk is, 
like the latter, hairy or woolly on its under side; 
and the principal veins which ramify diagonally 
and in parallel lines, from the under side of the 
mid-vein towards the margin, are likewise woolly. 
Though, as we have said, resembling the Alder leaf, 
the leaf of Corylus avellana is distinguished from 
the former by its pointed instead of depressed apex, 
and by its hollow instead of pointed base. The 
glutinousness of surface too, as well as the absence 
of the woolly covering, enables the Alder leaf 
to be readily distinguished from that of the Hazel. 
The flowers of the Hazel are borne in cylindrical 
catkins. The male or fertile flowers, which appear 
as early as February, are in colour greyish. The 
female flowers, following in April, are of a beautiful 
crimson. So soon as they have performed their 
office the male flowers drop from the Tree, leaving 
the others to develope into the familiar fruit which, 
seated in its green-fringed calyx, developes from 
