Tea

Camellia sinensis

• BOTANICAL NAME: Camellia sinensis
  
• PRONUNCIATION: ca-MEEL-e-a sy-NEN-sis
  
• COMMON NAME: Tea
  
• FAMILY: Theaceae
  
• Division: Magnoliophyta
  
• Class: Magnoliopsida
  
• SubClass: Dilleniidae
  
• Order: Theales
  
• SubOrder:
  
• Family: Theaceae
  
• SubFamily: Camellieae
  
• Tribe:
  
• SubTribe:
  

  
  Based on, Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M. J. (1992 onwards). ‘The Families of Flowering Plants: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval.’ Version: 19th August 1999. http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/.
  

  
  
• NATIVITY: China.
  
• GROWTH HABIT: Medium sized, rounded shrub.
  
• SIZE: 4 - 6' tall can grow to be 90' or more.
  
• HARDINESS: Zone 7 - 9.
  
• CULTURE: Full sun to shade and adaptable to soil type. Does not
  grow well in excessive water. Is tolerant of heat and
  drought, much better than most plants in the Theaceae
  family.
  
• Good plant for shady spots, group plantings and low border plants.
  
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, elliptic, serrate, 2 - 4 1/2" long. This is the plant from which tea is made.
  
• BUDS:
  
• BARK:
  
• Solitary or in groups of three in the axils of the leaves. The flowers have 7 -8 white petals that form a 1 - 1 1/2" diameter flower. Flowers are present in the autumn (October) but are largely hidden by the foliage. Flowers are fragrant.
  
• FRUIT: 3/4" capsule.
  
  
• PROPAGATION: Seed, cuttings.
  
  
• PESTS: None serious.
  
  
• CULTIVARS: Numerous cultivars exist in China for tea production. There are no cultivars for ornamental purposes.
  

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Other Common Names: An Hua Ch'A, Assam Tea, Cay, Ch'A, Green Tea, Hsueh Ch'A, Lo Chieh Ch'A, Ming, P'U Erh Ch'A, P'U T'O Ch'A, Shui Sha Lien Ch'A, Tea, Wu I Ch'A, Thea sinensis, Camellia sinensis

Range: E. Asia - China? Exact origin is uncertain.

Habitat: Shaded areas at an elevation of 2100 - 2700 metres in Yunnan. Prefers a woodland soil but thrives in a warm open well-drained loam if leafmould is added.

Composition: Leaves (Dry weight) - Water: 0 Protein: 25.7 Fat: 6.5 Carbohydrate: 40.8 Ash: 5 caffeine: 3.3% tannin: 13%



Links:

Camellia sinensis {Theaceae} #198501325 L:3310 Q:3