The "Hakusan-shakunage" (Rhododendron brachycarpum) belongs to Ericaceae (the Azalea family). It is a small evergreen tree that is distributed norhward from Chubu district of Honshu to Hokkaido, and Mt. Ishizuchi of Shikoku in Japan. This tree grows in sub-alpine coniferous forests or thickets of Dwarf Siberian pine, and can reach 1-2 m in height. The leaves are thick, petiolated and convolute outside. The flowers are white, pale rose pink or pale cream, and 10-20 flowers bloom on the terminal branches from June to July.