The "Mizu-nara" (Quercus cuspidata) belongs to Fagaceae (the Beech family). It is a tall deciduous tree that is native to Japan, the southern Sakhalin and the southern Kuril Islands. It is a typical deciduous tree in cool temperate area. This tree grows in mountains and can reach about 30 m in height. The barks are bluckish-brown and irregularly-furrowed longitudially. They are also peeling thinly. The leaves are alternate and sessile with coarse acute edges. The leaves turn from yellow to red in the fall. The yellowish green flowers appear in May. The Japanese name "mizu-nara" (water oak) comes from the large amount of water contained in the wood. It is also known as "Oo-nara" (large oak) in Japan.