Common Hazel (Corylus avellana)

Good day dear Hive Community, first of all I would like to wish you all a pleasant day and hope you are well and your weekend is full of positive experiences! In this post, I would like to bring a plant a little closer.

Here you can see pictures of common hazel which is also known under the scientific name Corylus avellana and an adult tree can grow up to 10 meters high and over a century old. Hazels are known to form a very extensive root network and are mainly widespread in the northern hemisphere and prefer sunny locations or nutrient-rich soils. Also from an ecological point of view, it is extremely important because it offers some insects an important source of food and it is also of great benefit to birds and it is one of the most important food sources for other animals and also offers enough space to breed.

In the past, the wood was already used to make objects such as fences, baskets or other objects for everyday use and from a symbolic point of view it is also associated with immortality, spring, happiness and manifestations. Culturally it is very strongly anchored and has also gained a important place in mythology and already the ancient Celts associated it with wisdom as well as a gateway to another world. often it was also revered as a magical tree and in Norse mythology it was dedicated to the god Thor and it was also thought that it could protect the people from the impact of lightning and that it had general protective properties.

Common Hazel was also dedicated to the well-known father of the gods Odin and the hammer of Thor is said to have partly existed made from the wood of hazel. In Greek mythology, the staff of Hermes is said to have been made from the wood of hazel, which was also known as caduceus and is still a well-known symbol in medicine today. The shrub was also known as a fertility or love symbol and the ancient Romans probably associated it with peace. It has probably also been used for the production of rods for centuries and it still plays an important role today when it comes to ceremonial purposes and also shamans make use of it and use it for healing purposes.

Many thanks for taking the time to read through my post and I hope you like it! I used my camera Sony Alpha 6000 and Sony SEL-55210 Telephoto Zoom Lens (55-210mm) to take these pictures.