モクレン科モクレン属の落葉高木で、学名は Magnolia obovata(syn. Magnolia hypoleuca)。英名は Japanese white-bark magnolia。
The Japanese white-bark magnolia (Magnolia obovata) belongs to Magnoliaceae (the Magnolia family). It is a tall deciduous tree that is distributed throughout Japan and the Kuril Islands. This tree grows in the hills and mountains and can reach about 30 m in height. The leaves are large obovate to obovate-oblong, alternate, wheeled at the terminal branches. The fragrant white to pale yellowish white flowers come in May to June. The leaves had been used for serving rice in ancient days, and are used for "Hooba-miso" (Fermented covered with the leaves) in Gifu prefecture nowadays.