Envoy at 15:18, 20 September 2007

2007-09-20T15:18:41Z

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen
| name = Tea Plant
| image = Csinensis.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Camellia sinensis'' foliage
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Theaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Camellia]]''
| species = ''C. sinensis''
| binomial = '''''Camellia sinensis'''''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Otto Kuntze|Kuntze]]
}}
'''''Camellia sinensis''''' is the '''tea plant''', the [[plant]] [[species]] whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce [[tea]].
[[White tea]], [[green tea]], [[oolong]] and [[black tea]] are all harvested from this species, but are processed differently to attain different levels of [[oxidation]].

The name ''sinensis'' means ''[[China|Chinese]]'' in [[Latin]]. Older names for the tea plant include ''Thea bohea'', ''Thea sinensis'' and ''Thea viridis''.

''Camellia sinensis'' is native to mainland [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]], but is today cultivated across the world, in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an evergreen [[shrub]] or small [[tree]] that is usually trimmed to below two metres (six feet) when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong [[taproot]]. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals.

The seeds of ''Camellia sinensis'' and ''[[Camellia oleifera]]'' can be pressed to yield [[tea oil]], a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil that should not be confused with [[tea tree oil]], an [[essential oil]] that is used for medical and cosmetical purposes and originates from the leaves of a different plant.

[[Image:Koeh-025.jpg|left|thumb|''Camellia sinensis'' plant, with cross-section of the flower (lower left) and seeds (lower right).]]
The leaves are 4–15 cm long and 2–5 cm broad. Fresh leaves contain about 4% [[caffeine]].{{Fact|date=May 2007}} The young, light green leaves are preferably harvested for tea production; they have short white hairs on the underside. Older leaves are deeper green. Different leaf ages produce differing tea qualities, since their chemical compositions are different. Usually, the tip (bud) and the first two to three leaves are harvested for processing. This hand picking is repeated every one to two weeks.

The three basic types of tea are green, oolong and black. Green tea is steamed very soon after picking to stop the oxidation process. Oolong tea is left to oxidize a bit longer and is the type used by most Chinese restaurants. Black tea is oxided for the longest period of time which produces the darkest of the teas.
==Varieties==
Several varieties of ''C. sinensis'' are used for tea production:
===Assamese variety===
The most volume comes from the [[Assam tea|Assam]] variety (sometimes called ''C. sinensis'' var. ''assamica'' or ''C. assamica''), predominantly grown in the [[Assam]] region. It is a small tree (single stemmed) with large leaves. In the wild it reaches a height of 6 to 20 meters (20–65 feet) and is native to north-east [[India]], [[Myanmar]], [[Vietnam]], and south [[China]]. In tea estates it is kept trimmed to just above waist level. A lowland plant, it requires a high rainfall but good drainage. It does not tolerate extreme temperatures. Discovered in [[1823]] (though used earlier by local people in their brews), it is one of the two original tea plants. All Assam teas and most [[Ceylon tea]]s are from this plant. The Assam plant produces malty, earthy drinks, unlike the generally flowery yield of the China plant.

[[Image:Tea gains.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Seed bearing fruits of ''Camellia sinensis'']]

===Chinese variety===
The Chinese plant (sometimes called ''C. sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'') is a small-leaved bush with multiple stems that reaches a height of some 3 meters. It is native to south-east China. The first tea plant to be discovered, recorded and used to produce tea three thousand years ago, it yields some of the most popular teas.

''C. sinensis'' var. ''waldenae'' was considered a different species, ''Camellia waldenae'' by S.Y.Hu,<ref name="ICS">[http://www.uniklinik-saarland.de/med_fak/physiol2/camellia/register/species/spec_rs.htm The International Camellia Society (ICS)]</ref> but it was later identified as a variety of ''C. sinensis''<ref>Ming, T. L. (1992) A revision of Camellia sect. Thea. Acta Botanica Yunnanica. 14(2), 115-132. In Chinese.</ref>. This variety is commonly called '''Walden's Camellia'''. It is seen on [[Sunset Peak]] and [[Tai Mo Shan]] in Hong Kong. It is also distributed in Giangxi Province, China.<ref name="ICS" />

===Cambodian variety===
The Cambodian plant is sometimes called ''C. sinensis'' var. ''parvifolia''. Its leaves are in size between the Assam and Chinese varieties; it is a small tree with several stems. It is sometimes referred to as a hybrid of the Assam and China plants.

===Diseases===
{{Main|List of tea diseases}}

==Ethnomedical uses==
*The leaves have been used in [[traditional Chinese medicine]] (TCM), and other medical systems to treat [[asthma]], [[bronchodilator]], [[angina pectoris]], [[peripheral vascular disease]], and [[coronary artery disease]].

==See also==
* [[Tea tree oil]] is derived from ''[[Melaleuca|Melaleuca alternifolia]]'' which is native to [[Australia]] and unrelated to the tea plant discussed here.
* [[Tea tree]] is a name sometimes applied to a number of different plants unrelated to the tea plant.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commons|Camellia sinensis}}
{{wikispecies|Camellia sinensis}}
* {{ITIS|ID=506801|taxon=Camellia sinensis|year=2006|date=16 February}}
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Camellia_sinensis.html ''Camellia sinensis''] from [[Purdue University]]
*Plant Cultures: [http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/tea_landing.html botany and history of the tea plant]
* [http://www.tocklai.org/about_tea/tea_class.htm ''Camellia sinensis'' Classification] from Toklai Tea Research Station, Jorhat, Assam.
[[Category:Tea]]
[[Category:Theaceae]]

Camellia sinensis - Revision history

Envoy at 15:18, 20 September 2007