noun
birch tree; Japanese white birch
Refers to birch trees, especially Betula platyphylla var. japonica. Usually written in kana.
庭にカバノキを植えた。
I planted a birch tree in the garden.
カバノキの樹皮は白くて美しい。
The bark of the birch tree is white and beautiful.
The word かば (樺) means 'birch', and の木 (のき) means 'tree of'. The exact origin of かば is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word.