Korea Flora: Deciduous tree. Height 7-15m. Winter buds and young shoots: Terminal buds larger than lateral buds, 9-13mm long. Young shoots glabrous. Winter buds oblong with 2 bud scales. Leaf scars semicircular or triangular. Leaves alternate, elliptical or broadly elliptical, apex acute, base rounded or broadly cuneate, size 4-10cm × (2)3-5cm. Upper surface with silky hairs that disappear, lower surface with fine hairs, margins with wavy serrations. Petiole short, 3-6mm long. Flowers bisexual, blooming in leaf axils on lower parts of new branches. Pedicel 1.5-2cm long, glabrous. Bracts ovate or circular, 4-7mm long. Sepals round with woolly hairs. Petals white, spoon-shaped, truncate, 5-6 in number, 25-35mm long, margins slightly wavy. Ovary with silky hairs. 5 styles fused together, 5 stamens present. Fruit and seed 2-2.2cm long including persistent style, with silky hairs.

Flowering: Late June to early August

Fruiting: Late September to mid-October

Distribution: Western Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu in Japan; South of Mt. Sobaek in Chungcheongbukdo of Korea

Taxonomic notes: Previously known as S. koreana Rehder, which was distinguished from the Japanese species by the slightly upward or downward orientation of flowers when blooming. Currently, S. koreana is considered synonymous with S. pseudocamellia.