Betula ermanii var. ermanii ("Dakekanba")

Japanese name: ダケカンバ （岳樺）
Scientific name: Betula ermanii var. ermanii

[Overview]
A deciduous tree reaching 20 m in height and 1 m in diameter, though it becomes shrubby near the timberline of the subalpine zone.
It prefers bright places, grows quickly, and often forms pure stands in open areas.
The bark is reddish brown to grayish whitish brown, and peels off in thin, paper-like horizontal strips.
Leaves are simple, alternate on long shoots and borne two at a time on short shoots, triangular-ovate, 5–10 cm long and 3–7 cm wide.
The leaf margins are doubly serrate, and the leaves turn yellow in autumn.
The leaf stalk is 1–3.5 cm long.
There are male and female flowers.
The male inflorescence is a catkin 5–7 cm long and 0.8 cm wide, with one to several hanging from the tips of long shoots.
The female inflorescences are borne upright at the tips of short shoots.
The flowers are wind-pollinated.
The fruiting spike is elliptical to cylindrical, 2–4 cm long and 1 cm wide, borne upright and containing many nuts.
The nut is 2–3 mm long and 2–3 mm wide, with narrow wings 1/2–1/3 the width of the fruit.

[Uses]
The tar from the bark and the leaves are used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It prefers a sunny place with good drainage and good water retention.
In cool regions it grows well regardless of soil type.
It will also grow in other regions, but its lifespan is shorter than in cold regions.
Water when the soil surface dries so that the base of the plant does not dry out.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary.
It dislikes being transplanted once it has taken root.
Pests include teppo-mushi (larvae of longhorn beetles).
It is somewhat sensitive to air pollution.

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