Corylus ferox
| Corylus ferox | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 33' |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Corylus ferox (common name: himalayan hazel)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is harvested in autumn in a cold frame[1]. Germinates in late winter or spring. Stored seed should be pre-soaked in warm water for 48 hours and then given 2 weeks warm followed by 3 - 4 months cold stratification[1]. Germinates in 1 - 6 months at 20°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or sheltered place outdoors for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[K].
Layering in autumn. Easy, it takes about 6 months[2][3].
Division of suckers in early spring. Very easy, they can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, but is in general more productive of seeds when grown on soils of moderate fertility[4][3]. It does less well in rich heavy soils or poor ones[4][5]. Does well in a loamy soil[4]. Very suitable for an alkaline soil[4], but it dislikes very acid soils[6]. Plants are fairly wind tolerant[7][4].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3].
Members of this genus bear transplanting well and can be easily moved even when relatively large[4].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas from C. Nepal to S.W. China.
Habitat: Forests, 2400 - 3000 metres in the Himalayas[8]. Forests on mountain slopes at elevations of 1500 - 3800 metres in western China[9].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[10][11][12]. Small with a thick shell, the seed tastes like the common filbert, C. maxima[13][14]. The seed ripens in mid to late autumn and will probably need to be protected from squirrels[K]. When kept in a cool place, and not shelled, the seed should store for at least 12 months[K].
An edible oil is obtained from the seed.
Usage: Wood - soft, even grained[10].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Flower Type: Monoecious
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Howes, Frank. Nuts. Faber, 1948.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg and Adam Stainton. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press, 1984.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.