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Genus: Camellia (camellias) Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Order: Ericales > Family: Theaceae
About 120 species, native from the Himalayas to Japan and
Indonesia. Two species are cultivated in southern Africa: Camellia japonica
(Common camellia) and Camellia sinensis
(Tea).
Species cultivated in southern Africa
Camellia japonica (Common camellia)
Native to Japan and China. Camellia japonica is a well-known garden
plant with over 2000 named cultivars. Flowers can be
pink, red, variegated or mottled. Flowers in winter/spring. |
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Camellia sinensis (Tea) Native to China, Japan and
Taiwan. Tea is the second most commonly drank liquid on earth
after water. It has numerous medicinal benefits mainly due to its antibacterial
and antioxidant properties. The cafeine in tea keeps us awake, sometimes too
much so. Excessive tea drinking can cause anaemia due to inhibition of iron
uptake. |
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