Mongolian oak
A deciduous oak species native to East Asia; scientific name Quercus mongolica.
Many Mongolian oaks grow in the forests of Hokkaido.
Katakana spelling is common for this tree name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in general writing.
Kanji form is rare and mainly used in botanical contexts.
The name ミズナラ literally means 'water oak', likely referring to its preference for moist habitats. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.