Betula schmidtii

Betula schmidtii, the iron birch or Schmidt's birch, is a species of flowering plant in the family Betulaceae.^[2][3] It is native to Manchuria, Korea, Primorsky Krai of the Russian Far East, and Japan.^[1] A tree reaching 30 m (100 ft) with nearly black bark, its wood is so dense that it does not float, and is used where a tough, durable material is desired.^[4]

Betula schmidtii
At the Morris Arboretum
Shogi pieces made of ono-ore (ax-breaker) wood
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Betulaceae
Genus:	Betula
Species:	B. schmidtii
Binomial name
Betula schmidtii Regel
Synonyms[1]
Betula schmidtii f. angustifolia (Makino & Nemoto) Sugim. ex H.Ohba Betula schmidtii var. angustifolia Makino & Nemoto Betula schmidtii var. lancea Nakai Betula schmidtii f. lancea (Nakai) M.Kim