Common hazel — An image associated with the Avellano (hazelnut) fact sheet. In context, it belongs to a set of images illustrating the species or its wood, whose heartwood, sapwood, properties, origin, and uses are described in the text.
Specimen #1338
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Common hazel — Identification, Uses and Properties

Corylus avellana Betulaceae

Rarely available as sawn timber due to small dimensions.

Widely used for wattle-and-daub construction and agricultural hurdles in historical contexts.

HARDWOOD EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

Botanical Name(s)

Corylus avellana

Family

Betulaceae

Wood type

Hardwood

Local Names

Hazel (United Kingdom), Noisetier (France), Avellano (Spain), Hasel (Germany), Nocciolo (Italy)

Origin Region

Europe, Asia, Africa

Main End Uses

Furniture construction · Musical instruments · Walking sticks · Troughs · Oars · Barrel joints · Tools · Basketry · Hoops · Crafts · Medicinal charcoal · Drawing charcoal

Wood Identification Guide

Reference Colour

White to light brown

Texture

Fine

Grain

Straight

Sapwood

White or pinkish-white, not clearly differentiated from heartwood

Interlocked Grain

Absent

Notes

Pale light-brown wood with little or no contrast between heartwood and sapwood. Odor is indistinct or absent. Endgrain is diffuse- to semi-ring-porous with pores in wide radial multiples and clusters. Often encountered as small poles or narrow stock.

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Log Description

Tree height

3 – 15 ft

Tree height

3 – 8 m

Diameter

10-20 cm

Buoyancy

floats

Log Conservation

Good (small dimensions dry quickly)

Diameter

3.9-7.9 in

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Density

640 g/cm³ @ 12% MC

Density

40 lb/ft³

Monnin Hardness

2.8

Janka Hardness

840 lbf

Janka Hardness

3,737 N

Volumetric Shrinkage Coefficient

0.53 % / %

Tangential Shrinkage

10.5 %

Radial Shrinkage

6 %

T/R Anisotropy Ratio

1.75

Fibre Saturation Point

30 %

Crushing Strength

45 MPa

Crushing Strength

6,527 psi

Bending Strength (MOR)

90 MPa

Bending Strength (MOR)

13,053 psi

Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)

9,500 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)

1,377,859 psi

Durability & Treatment

Resistance to Decay

Non-durable

Dry Wood Borers

Not durable

Termites

Not durable

Treatability

Permeable

Use Class

5

Preservation Requirements

Against Dry Wood Borers

Requires treatment

Temporary Humidification

Moderate risk

Permanent Humidification

High risk of decay

Notes

Poor resistance when exposed outdoors or when submerged.

Drying Schedule & Risks

Drying Rate

Rapid

Risk Distortion

Moderate

Risk Case Hardening

Low

Risk Checking

High (tends to split)

Risk Collapse

Low

Sawing & Machining

Blunting Effect

Low

Tooth For Sawing

Standard

Machining Tools

Ordinary tools

Suitability Peeling

Good

Suitability Slicing

Good

Notes

Easily worked and finishing very smoothly.

Assembling & Finishing

Nailing Screwing

Tendency to split

Fire Safety & Ratings

French Grading Thick Gt14mm

M4

French Grading Thick Lt14mm

M4

Euroclass

D-s2, d0

CITES & Trade Restrictions

CITES Status

Unlisted
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