Corylus americana

The American hazel is in the birch or Betulaceae family and is native to eastern North America. It is a shrub that reaches 2.5–3 m tall.

It has a habitat similar to C. avellana, but does not grow quite so high in elevation; its fruit also is readily distinguished with the involucre being much longer. It also is little value as a nut-bearer.

• Leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple, 5–12 cm long and 4–9 cm across, broadly oval or ovate to roundish, rounded, coarsely, irregularly, or doubly toothed, heart-shaped or rounded at the base, pointed; upper surface has scattered hairs, lower surface beneath; petiole is 0.4-1.2 cm long
• The species is monoecious. Male flowers form catkins that are pale yellow and 3.7-7.5 cm long, notably visible in mid-winter before the leaves of most species are out. Females are very small and largely concealed in the buds with only the bright red 1–3 mm long styles visible.
• Fruit is roundish or egg-shaped nut 1.3 cm long, produced in clusters of 1–5 and set in a husk (involucre), which is nearly double its length, downy, much and deeply toothed.