Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Betula chichibuensis (Betulaceae), a critically endangered limestone birch

Betula chichibuensis is a critically endangered limestone birch confined to the Chichibu and Kitakami mountains in central and northeastern Japan, respectively. In this study, we assembled and characterized the complete chloroplast genome of B. chichibuensis. The whole chloroplast genome was 160,791 bp in length, consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,504 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,175 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,056 bp. It contained 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes (80 PCG types), 37 tRNA genes (30 tRNA types), and eight rRNA genes (four rRNA types). The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome was 36.01%. Phylogenetic analysis resolved B. chichibuensis as sister to the clade containing B. pendula.