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Hazel (genus Corylus) is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels (with the hornbeams and allied genera) into a separate family Corylaceae.[1] Hazel trees produce a nut known as the hazelnut.
Early broomsticks were made with hazel twigs.[2] The wood again became favorable for this usage with the advent of the Firebolt broomstick.[3]
Wandlore
A sensitive wand, hazel often reflects its owner’s emotional state, and works best for a master who understands and can manage their own feelings. Others should be very careful handling a hazel wand if its owner has recently lost their temper, or suffered a serious disappointment, because the wand will absorb such energy and discharge it unpredictably.[4]
The positive aspect of a hazel wand more than makes up for such minor discomforts, however, for it is capable of outstanding magic in the hands of the skillful, and is so devoted to its owner that it often ‘wilts’ (which is to say, it expels all its magic and refuses to perform, often necessitating the extraction of the core and its insertion into another casing, if the wand is still required) at the end of its master’s life (if the core is unicorn hair, however, there is no hope; the wand will almost certainly have ‘died’).[4]
Hazel wands also have the unique ability to detect water underground, and will emit silvery, tear-shaped puffs of smoke if passing over concealed springs and wells.[4]
Firebolt broomstick
Twigs of either hazle or birch were used in the construction of Firebolt broomsticks depending on the purchaser's personal preference. Hazel was useful for hair-trigger steering, while birch was known to give more "oomph."[3]
Notable hazel wand owners
Appearances
- Quidditch Through the Ages (First appearance)
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Mentioned only)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Pottermore
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hazel at Wikipedia
- ↑ Quidditch Through the Ages - Chapter 1 (The Evolution of the Flying Broomstick)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Firebolt" at Pottermore
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pottermore