Habitat
Type: woods
Distribution: mainly SE England, continental Europe

General
Growth type: tree
Cycle: deciduous
Height: up to 30 meters
Other:

Leaf
Shape: lanceolate
Texture: smooth
Arrangement: alternate
Edge: toothed
Other: up to 18cm

Trunk
Colour: grey-brown
Texture: smooth when young, turning more rugged when mature

Flower
Shape: catkin
When: July
Colour:

Seed
Shape: roundish
Colour: dark brown
Size: 3cm
Casing: spiky husk
Other: 2-3 in case

July and August
all year
October and November

Parts with black and white icons are for non-culinary use

Flavour
Rating and Description:
cooked: sweet and mealy; raw: astringent

How to Consume
raw, roasted, cooked, flour

Special preparation
peel inner casing to cook, pierce inner casing before roasting

Nutrition
starch, but does not contain oil

Used as ...
food, beverage (coffee substitute)

Action:
(bark): anti-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant, tonic

May treat:
bleeding, diarrhoea, convulsive coughs (gargle)
rheumatism, back pain, stiff muscles/joints

(bark, wood) (husk): tanning, shampoo
(trunk) timber - hard, strong, light, durable

Collection
throw stick into branches - ripe ones will fall

Drying
(bark): dry to store
dry in warm, ventilated room for about 2 months

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Parts with black and white icons in the availability section are for non-culinary use

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

General Glossary

• lanceolate: shaped like a lance head; long, tapering to end

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. (see also demulcent, emollient)
• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
• tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement