CHAP. CV.

coryla'ceas. co'rylus.

2029

£ 2. C. Colu'rna L. The Constantinople Hazel.

Identification. Hort. Cliff., 448.; Hoy. Lugdb.,81.; Mill. Diet. , No. 2. ; Willd. Sp. PI. , 4. p. 472. ;N. Du Ham., 4. p. 20.; Lodd. Cat. , 1836.

Synonyines. C. byzantlna Herm. Lwgdb ., 91., Seb. Mus., 1. t. 27.; ^vell&na peregvlna hdmilisBauh. Pin., 418.; A. ptimila byzantlna Clus. Hist., 1. p. 11. j C. arbbrea Hart.-, le Noisetier deBizance, Fr. ; Byzantinische Haselnuss, Gcr.

Engravings. Seb. Mus., 1.1. 27. f. 2.; Dend. Brit., t. 99.; our fig. 1948. ; and the plates of this treein our last Volume.

1948

Spec. Char.y fyc. Stipules lanceolate, acuminate. Leaves roundish ovate,cordate. Involucre of the fruit double; the exterior many-partite, the in-terior 3-partite; divisions palmate. ( Willd.) A tree, 50 ft. or 60 ft. high ;a native of Turkey and Asia Minor . Introduced in 1665.

Varieties.

£ C. C. 2 intermedia ; C. intermedia Lodd. Cat. , ed. 1836; is probably ahybrid between C. Colurna and C. Avellana .

C. C. 3 arborescens Fisch., and our fig. 1949., differs from the species, chiefly in the calyxof the nut being cut into shreds.

Description, 4'C. The Constantinople nut formsa handsome somewhat pyramidal tree, 50 ft. or60 ft. high; with a whitish bark, which peels off instrips. The branches spread out horizontally ; theleaves are more angular, and softer, than those of thecommon hazel; and the stipules are linear. The nuts ,are small, round, and almost covered with the calyx,which is double, and deeply laciniated, or fringed, withthe points recurved. The tree grows rapidly, and withgreat vigour, in the climate of London . It was at firstsupposed to be a dwarf shrub, and is described as suchin the old books relating to trees; but it was soon dis-covered to be a lofty tree. It is a native of Asia Minor and Turkey; but it bears the climate of bothParis and London without the slightest injury.

Desfontaines tells us that Clusius first cultivated theCorylus Colurna; and that it was sent to him fromConstantinople in 1582 {Hist, des Arbres, ii. p. 540.); and Prof. Martyn tellsus it was reintroduced four years afterwards by “ David Ungnad Baron inZorneck.” It appears to have beenfirst cultivated in England by Rea, aflorist, who, in his Flora, published in1665, says that he had then “ manygoodly plants of the filbeard of Con­ stantinople .” ( p. 224.) It is alsomentioned by Ray, the celebrated bo-tanical author, in his Historia Planta-rum, published in 1686, among “therare trees and shrubs ” which he sawa short time previously in the Palace '

Gardens at Fulham. (See p. 41.)

Notwithstanding its beauty, and theease with which it is cultivated, theConstantinople nut has never beenmuch in demand in English gardens.

It will grow in almost any soil, but does best in one similar to that adaptedfor the common hazel. It is easily propagated by seed, grafts, or layers.Grafting on the common hazel is, however, the most general way, as thenut often proves abortive, both in French and English gardens. The largesttree in the neighbourhood of London is that at Syon, of which a portrait isgiven in our last Volume. There are also large trees at Ham House, Purser’sCross, and in the grounds of Farnham Castle, which bear fruit most years.Price of plants, in the London nurseries, Is. 6 d. each; at Bollwyller, 50cents; and at New York, 50 cents.

* 6 p 8

1949