Professor Birch

Professor Birch (Japanese: オダマキ博士 Dr. Odamaki) is the Pokémon Professor of the Hoenn region, specializing in Pokémon habitats and distribution. He resides in Littleroot Town and is the father of the rival character (Brendan or May, depending on the player's choice). Known for his passion for fieldwork, Professor Birch often leaves his lab to conduct research in the wild. He provides aspiring trainers with a Pokédex and one of the three Hoenn starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip. In Pokémon Emerald, he also offers a Johto starter Pokémon after the player completes the Hoenn Pokédex. Professor Birch is outgoing and enjoys interacting with Pokémon, though his research focus sometimes causes him to be absent-minded. In the anime, he was first mentioned in Harrison's flashback before making his physical debut, assisting May in selecting her first Pokémon, Torchic. He is known for his reckless driving in an SUV. His name, 'Odamaki,' comes from the Japanese word for the columbine flower.