Name/Title
California Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)Entry/Object ID
2021.1.43 BScope and Content
California Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) plant description, framed.
The Corylus cornuta is a native species distributed across North America. However, the californica variation grows only along the Pacific coast. It is a shrubby tree that produces tiny flowers in late winter to early spring. the Hazelnuts or filberts can be harvested in summer.
The Corps of Discovery met over 50 different Indian tribes. Several of these tribes were encountered as the men descended the Columbia River in 1805. The Corpsmen were the first non-Indians to descend the river east of the Cascade Mountains. Indians gathered to see these men make the dangerous passage through the rapids. Just below the mouth of the Towarnehiooks River (today's Deschutes River) and near Celio Falls, they came to a meeting or trading point for the Indians. They were impressed by the "great numbers of baskets of Pounded fish" which weighed 90 to 100 pounds each. They were also able to hire Indians to help them portage part of the falls and Clark wrote on October 22, 1805, "they gave us Philburts, and berries to eate." Several days later they stopped at a village of about 7 lodges. Clark wrote, "The chief gave us to eate Sackacommis burries Hasel nuts fish Pounded, and a kind of Bread made of roots - we gave to the Women pices of ribon, which they appeared pleased with - those houses are large 25 feet Sqr and contain abt. 8 men, Say 30 inhabitents - ... we Call this the Friendly Village."
Today, the Hazelnut tree is grown commercially in Washington and Oregon.Context
Originally designed by the St. Joseph Museum in the fall of 2004. Titled "Botanical Wonders of the Uncharted West. The Recorded Flora of the Lewis & Clark Expedition."Collection
Lewis and ClarkLexicon
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Botanical drawings, Expeditions & surveysArchive Items Details
Title
California Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)Creator
Mary L. FletcherDate(s) of Creation
2004Subjects
Plants, Watercolor paintingsParts
Count
2Parts
Watercolor of plant and descriptive label, both framed.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodProvenance
Notes
"Botanical Wonders of the Uncharted West" visually depicts how well Lewis followed Jefferson's instructions. In recognition of this achievement, The S. Joseph Museums, Inc. commissioned accomplished artist Mary Fletcher to create fifty (50) selected paintings of flora documented by the Corps during their Journey. These framed watercolor originals are accompanied by similarly framed labels, generated by former Head of Research Jackie Lewin, which describe the corresponding plants with appropriate quotations from the Journals. This collection makes available for study and appreciation plants that were new to Lewis and Clark, but which Native Peoples already recognized as valuable sources of food, medicine, and tools. Some of these still remain a mystery to many, but all will enjoy their beauty, their diverse uses, and their accomplished renderings.