Carpinus kawakamii

Japanese hornbeam is a member of the birch or Betulaceae family and is native to parts of China (Fujian and Taiwan).

• Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4–5 cm long and 1.8–2.5 cm across, double-toothed and elongated-point tapered at the tips; veins are prominently inset, giving a corrugated appearance. 10-15 lateral veins on each side of midvein; petiole is 0.8–1.5 cm long.
• Fruit is a small 7–8 mm long nut, partially surrounded by 3–7 pointed leafy, toothed bracts to 5 cm long, in pendulous strings, somewhat resembling ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) catkins. The bracts mature in autumn, turning brown and some remaining on the tree over winter.
• Trees; bark dark gray; branchlets are brown, glabrous or sparsely pubescent.