The "Iwa-nashi" (Epigaea asiatica) belongs to Ericaceae (the Azalea family). It is a deciduous shrub that is an endemic species of Japan. This shrub is distributed from southern Hokkaido to the Japan Sea sides of Honshu. It grows in montane forests and can reach 10-15 cm in height. The stems are reddish-brown, much branched, sprawling on the ground. The leaves are long-ovate and alternate. The pale rose-pink, bell-shaped flowers bloom in the racemes atop of stems from May to June. The fruits are capsules and have pear-like sweet taste.