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{{alternateuses}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Camellia'' bush
| image = Camellia japonica natural.jpg
| image_width = 280px
| image_caption = ''Camellia japonica''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Theaceae]]
| genus = '''''Camellia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 100–250 species, including:<br/>
''[[Camellia assimilis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia azalea]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia brevistyla]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia caudata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia chekiangoleosa]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia chrysantha]]'' – Golden Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia connata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia crapnelliana]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia cuspidata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia euphlebia]]''</br>
''[[Camellia euryoides]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia forrestii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia fraterna]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia furfuracea]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia granthamiana]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia grijsii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia hongkongensis]]'' - Hong Kong Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia irrawadiensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia japonica]]'' – Japanese Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia kissii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia lutchuensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia miyagii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia nitidissima]]'' - ''Camellia chrysantha'', Yellow Camellia</br>
''[[Camellia nokoensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia oleifera]]'' - Tea Oil Camellia, Oil-seed Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia parviflora]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia pitardii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia polyodonta]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia reticulata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia rosiflora]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia rusticana]]'' – Snow Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia salicifolia]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia saluenensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia sasanqua]]'' – Christmas Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia semiserrata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' – Tea<br/>
''[[Camellia taliensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia transnokoensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia tsaii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia vietnamensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia yunnanensis]]''
}}
'''''Camellia''''' ({{zh-cp|c=茶花|p=Cháhuā}}) is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Theaceae]], native to eastern and southern [[Asia]] from the [[Himalaya]] east to [[Japan]] and [[Indonesia]]. There are 100–250 existent species, with some controversy over the exact number. The genus was named by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] after [[Jesuit]] botanist [[Georg Joseph Kamel]].
[[Image:Teestrauch Detail.jpg|left|thumb|Leaves of ''Camellia sinensis'', also known as the [[tea plant]]]]
They are [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s 2–20 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternately arranged, simple, thick, serrated, usually glossy, and 3–17 cm long. The [[flower]]s are large and conspicuous, 1–12 cm diameter, with (in natural conditions) 5–9 petals; colour varies from white to pink and red, and yellow in a few species. The [[fruit]] is a dry capsule, sometimes subdivided into up to 5 compartments, each compartment containing up to 8 [[seed]]s.
The genus is generally adapted to [[acid]]ic [[soil]]s, and does not grow well on [[chalk]] or other [[calcium]]-rich soils. Most species also have a high [[rain]]fall requirement and will not tolerate [[drought]]. Some Camellias have been known to grow without much rainfall.
''Camellia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of a number of ''[[Lepidoptera]]'' species. See [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Camellia]].
==Cultivation and uses==
''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' is of major commercial importance because [[tea]] is made from its leaves. [[Tea oil]] is a sweet seasoning and cooking oil made by pressing the seeds of ''Camellia sinensis'' or ''[[Camellia oleifera]]''.
Many other camellias are grown as ornamental plants for their flowers; about 3,000 [[cultivar]]s and [[hybrid]]s have been selected, many with [[double flowers]]. ''[[Camellia japonica]]'' (often simply called '''Camellia''') is the most prominent species in cultivation, with over 2,000 named cultivars; next are ''[[Camellia reticulata|C. reticulata]]'', with over 400 named cultivars, and ''[[Camellia sasanqua|C. sasanqua]]'', with over 300 named cultivars. Popular hybrids include ''[[Camellia hiemalis|C. × hiemalis]]'' (''C. japonica'' × ''C. sasanqua'') and ''[[Camellia williamsii|C. × williamsii]]'' (''C. japonica'' × ''[[Camellia salouenensis|C. salouenensis]]''). They are highly valued in Japan and elsewhere for their very early flowering, often among the first flowers to appear in the late winter. Late [[frost]]s can damage the flowers.
PF1022A, a [[metabolite]] of Mycelia sterile, a [[fungus]] that inhabits the leaves of ''Camellia japonica'' is chemically altered to synthesise [[emodepside]], an [[anthelmintic]] [[drug]].
Camellias have a slow growth rate. Typically they will grow about 30 centimetres a year until mature although this varies depending on variety and location.
<gallery>
Image:Double-flowered Camellia.jpg|Double flowered Camellia
Image:Cameliasasanqua 6637.JPG|''Camellia sasanqua''
Image:Camellia_japonica.jpg|''Camellia japonica'' 'Pink Perfection'
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Camellia1.JPG|Double flowered Camellia
Image:Camellia2.JPG|Double flowered Camellia
Image:Camellia japonica SZ82.jpg|19th century illustration
</gallery>
{{Commons|Camellia}}
==As a favourite flower==
===Places===
''[[Camellia japonica]]'' is the [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of [[Alabama]] as well as the city flower of [[Slidell, Louisiana]], the [[Municipality of China|Chinese municipality]] [[Chongqing]] and of [[Matsue|Matsue City]] in [[Shimane|Shimane Prefecture]], [[Japan|Japan]].
===People===
* [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]] grew Camellia in all of her gardens. As her body was taken from [[Royal Lodge]], [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] to lie in state at [[Westminster Hall]] of the [[Palace of Westminster]], a Camellia from her gardens was placed on top of the flag-draped coffin.
* [[Ralph Peer]], the music industry pioneer often credited as the father of [[country music]], was a president of the [[American Camellia Society]].
* [[Coco Chanel]] was very well known for wearing a white Camellia.
* The heroine of the novel ''[[The Lady of the Camellias]]'' always wears a camellia as her symbol. She was based on the real-life French courtesan [[Marie Duplessis]].
==External links==
* [http://camellia-ics.org/ The International Camellia Society]
* [http://www.camellias-acs.org/ The American Camellia Society]
* [http://www.southeasterncamellias.com/ The Southeastern Camellia Society]
[[Category:Theaceae]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Camellia'' bush
| image = Camellia japonica natural.jpg
| image_width = 280px
| image_caption = ''Camellia japonica''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Theaceae]]
| genus = '''''Camellia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 100–250 species, including:<br/>
''[[Camellia assimilis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia azalea]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia brevistyla]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia caudata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia chekiangoleosa]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia chrysantha]]'' – Golden Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia connata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia crapnelliana]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia cuspidata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia euphlebia]]''</br>
''[[Camellia euryoides]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia forrestii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia fraterna]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia furfuracea]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia granthamiana]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia grijsii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia hongkongensis]]'' - Hong Kong Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia irrawadiensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia japonica]]'' – Japanese Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia kissii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia lutchuensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia miyagii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia nitidissima]]'' - ''Camellia chrysantha'', Yellow Camellia</br>
''[[Camellia nokoensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia oleifera]]'' - Tea Oil Camellia, Oil-seed Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia parviflora]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia pitardii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia polyodonta]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia reticulata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia rosiflora]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia rusticana]]'' – Snow Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia salicifolia]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia saluenensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia sasanqua]]'' – Christmas Camellia<br/>
''[[Camellia semiserrata]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' – Tea<br/>
''[[Camellia taliensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia transnokoensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia tsaii]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia vietnamensis]]''<br/>
''[[Camellia yunnanensis]]''
}}
'''''Camellia''''' ({{zh-cp|c=茶花|p=Cháhuā}}) is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Theaceae]], native to eastern and southern [[Asia]] from the [[Himalaya]] east to [[Japan]] and [[Indonesia]]. There are 100–250 existent species, with some controversy over the exact number. The genus was named by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] after [[Jesuit]] botanist [[Georg Joseph Kamel]].
[[Image:Teestrauch Detail.jpg|left|thumb|Leaves of ''Camellia sinensis'', also known as the [[tea plant]]]]
They are [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s 2–20 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternately arranged, simple, thick, serrated, usually glossy, and 3–17 cm long. The [[flower]]s are large and conspicuous, 1–12 cm diameter, with (in natural conditions) 5–9 petals; colour varies from white to pink and red, and yellow in a few species. The [[fruit]] is a dry capsule, sometimes subdivided into up to 5 compartments, each compartment containing up to 8 [[seed]]s.
The genus is generally adapted to [[acid]]ic [[soil]]s, and does not grow well on [[chalk]] or other [[calcium]]-rich soils. Most species also have a high [[rain]]fall requirement and will not tolerate [[drought]]. Some Camellias have been known to grow without much rainfall.
''Camellia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of a number of ''[[Lepidoptera]]'' species. See [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Camellia]].
==Cultivation and uses==
''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' is of major commercial importance because [[tea]] is made from its leaves. [[Tea oil]] is a sweet seasoning and cooking oil made by pressing the seeds of ''Camellia sinensis'' or ''[[Camellia oleifera]]''.
Many other camellias are grown as ornamental plants for their flowers; about 3,000 [[cultivar]]s and [[hybrid]]s have been selected, many with [[double flowers]]. ''[[Camellia japonica]]'' (often simply called '''Camellia''') is the most prominent species in cultivation, with over 2,000 named cultivars; next are ''[[Camellia reticulata|C. reticulata]]'', with over 400 named cultivars, and ''[[Camellia sasanqua|C. sasanqua]]'', with over 300 named cultivars. Popular hybrids include ''[[Camellia hiemalis|C. × hiemalis]]'' (''C. japonica'' × ''C. sasanqua'') and ''[[Camellia williamsii|C. × williamsii]]'' (''C. japonica'' × ''[[Camellia salouenensis|C. salouenensis]]''). They are highly valued in Japan and elsewhere for their very early flowering, often among the first flowers to appear in the late winter. Late [[frost]]s can damage the flowers.
PF1022A, a [[metabolite]] of Mycelia sterile, a [[fungus]] that inhabits the leaves of ''Camellia japonica'' is chemically altered to synthesise [[emodepside]], an [[anthelmintic]] [[drug]].
Camellias have a slow growth rate. Typically they will grow about 30 centimetres a year until mature although this varies depending on variety and location.
<gallery>
Image:Double-flowered Camellia.jpg|Double flowered Camellia
Image:Cameliasasanqua 6637.JPG|''Camellia sasanqua''
Image:Camellia_japonica.jpg|''Camellia japonica'' 'Pink Perfection'
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Camellia1.JPG|Double flowered Camellia
Image:Camellia2.JPG|Double flowered Camellia
Image:Camellia japonica SZ82.jpg|19th century illustration
</gallery>
{{Commons|Camellia}}
==As a favourite flower==
===Places===
''[[Camellia japonica]]'' is the [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of [[Alabama]] as well as the city flower of [[Slidell, Louisiana]], the [[Municipality of China|Chinese municipality]] [[Chongqing]] and of [[Matsue|Matsue City]] in [[Shimane|Shimane Prefecture]], [[Japan|Japan]].
===People===
* [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]] grew Camellia in all of her gardens. As her body was taken from [[Royal Lodge]], [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] to lie in state at [[Westminster Hall]] of the [[Palace of Westminster]], a Camellia from her gardens was placed on top of the flag-draped coffin.
* [[Ralph Peer]], the music industry pioneer often credited as the father of [[country music]], was a president of the [[American Camellia Society]].
* [[Coco Chanel]] was very well known for wearing a white Camellia.
* The heroine of the novel ''[[The Lady of the Camellias]]'' always wears a camellia as her symbol. She was based on the real-life French courtesan [[Marie Duplessis]].
==External links==
* [http://camellia-ics.org/ The International Camellia Society]
* [http://www.camellias-acs.org/ The American Camellia Society]
* [http://www.southeasterncamellias.com/ The Southeastern Camellia Society]
[[Category:Theaceae]]
