2 Records

In Maryland, there are two species of Corylus (hazelnut): Corylus cornuta (Beaked Hazelnut) and Corylus americana (American Hazelnut). They are most easily distinguished by their fruits. The involucre (husk) of American Hazelnut fruit is composed of two wide, soft, leafy, pubescent bracts that are about as long as the nut and partially or fully enclose the nut, whereas the involucre of Beaked Hazelnut is composed of fused bracts extending beyond the nut, as a pronounced tubular beak that is twice the length of the nut or more. Leaves of both species are doubly serrate, but those of Beaked Hazelnut are more deeply serrate than those of American Hazelnut. Twigs of American Hazelnut are distinctly hairy, though hairs may wear off by winter’s end; twigs of Beaked Hazelnut are hairless. Male catkins of Beaked Hazelnut are short compared with those of American Hazelnut.

In Maryland, Beaked Hazelnut is largely confined to the mountain region. American Hazelnut is not common on the Coastal Plain.