Hazaribagh, which literally means a thousand gardens, might get an added charm, which only the Himalayas can boast of.

A 60-year-old rare tree at Imli Kothi area of the town, which locals call Bhojpatra, a Himalayan birch, was spotted by chief forest conservator, Hazaribagh range, Mahendra Prasad on Wednesday.

Prasad said he got the information about the presence of Bhojpatra, botanically known as Betulia utilis, from a local resident on Tuesday. This prompted him to come and see the tree, which is widely found in Himalayas at a height of 14,800ft above the sea-level, along with retired forest officer Shubhashis Ram.

They collected samples of its leaf and bark, which will be send for verification to Ranchi.

Both Prasad and Ram, however, confirmed the tree had similarities with Bhojpatra but whether it was the actual Himalayan birch, was subject to verification.

"This tree's bark and leaves are similar to Bhojpatra. But, the local residents said they had seen flowers in the tree in winter while Bhojpatra flowers in April-May. We have noticed some other differences as well. But, these may be due to the difference in climate between the Himalayas and Hazaribagh. So, we have to get it confirmed from a senior botanist in Ranchi before reaching any final conclusion," Prasad said.

About the Bhojpatra tree, Ram said its white paper-like bark was used for writing in ancient India. "Writers like Kalidasa, Sushruta and Varahamihira had used its barks. It is still used for writing sacred mantras, which are worn by people in amulets on hands or neck for protection. People also use it as firewood, which is a big reason for its fast disappearance. Apart from the quality that its bark peels of easily, another unique feature is its trunk's elasticity. You can easily poke a finger in its trunk but it returns to its normal position on leaving," he said.

Prasad and Ram, both added if they get positive confirmation about the Hazaribagh tree, then it would be the first Bhojpatra in the state. "We will take steps to protect this tree then," Prasad said.

Local residents said Imli Kothi area was known for a variety of rare trees, which were felled for grabbing land.

Prasad and Ram also saw another large tree in the locality, which they failed to identify. People said the tree bore small sweet fruits.

"I have collected samples of this tree as well, which will be send for identification," said Prasad.