Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Corylus colurna L.

Hardy, deciduous, pyramidal tree with corky, corrugated bark, ovate, pointed, toothed leaves, and nuts usually in clusters of 3-6.  To 24m.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Constantinople hazel. Leaves roundish ovate, heart-shaped; husk double, the inner one divided into three deeply cleft divisions, the outer with many long, slender, curved segments, giving to the calyx or husk a fringed appearance, but leaving the end of the nut fully exposed. Nuts small, and for this reason rarely cultivated. Native of Asia Minor, where the tree attains a bight of from fifty to sixty feet. It is, however, hardy in France and England, and was introduced into the latter country some three hundred years ago, probably by Clusius, who received either nuts or plants from Constantinople, hence its present name.’ [Fuller – The Nut Culturist p.128/1896]. Figured in Flore es Serres [FS f.2223-4/1875].  Grown in Britain since before 1665.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Corylus colurna is marked with a ‘c’ in an 1836 edition of Loddiges’ catalogue held at Camden Park [CPA].  In William Macarthur’s code, used and explained elsewhere, this means grown at Camden.  It is almost certain that it was grown in the gardens around this time but it did not appear in the catalogues.

Notes

Published Apr 02, 2010 - 01:01 PM | Last updated Apr 02, 2010 - 01:08 PM

Figured are ovate leaves, frilled, green husks and ripe nuts.  FS f.2223-4, 1875.

Corylus colurna L. | FS f.2223-4/1875 | BHL

Family Betulaceae
Category
Region of origin

South east Europe to Asia

Synonyms
  • Corylus pontica Koch.
  • Corylus byzantina Clus.
Common Name

Turkish hazel nut

Name in the Camden Park Record

Corylus colurna 

Confidence level high