— 270 — 



„des dimensions moindres que dans le théier cultivé, et, pour les fruits, 

 „la démarcation des loges ovariennes est également moins accentuée." 



,,lis correspondent en tous points au Thea sinensis." 



Thèse trees were higher (!) and vegetated at a greater élévation above 

 sea level than the subséquent form. 



The second variety has large leaves, about 200 mM. in length and 

 100 niM wide, with pétioles 10 mM. long. „Ses feuilles sont alternes, 

 «ovales lancéolées, vert clair et brillantes, peu coriaces au début et pendant 

 „leur développement, ne le deviennent qu' à l'état adulte et le sont toujours 

 „moins que dans la variété décrite précédemment; les bords du limbe sont 

 «profondément dentés, mais, la partie inférieure de ce dernier est parfaitement 

 „lisse dans ses 2 à 2 5 derniers centimètres au moins, en outre, la den- 

 „telure nous présente assez régulièrement une petite dent entre deux 

 „plus grandes."' 



Apparently this form wants shadow; it grows on sloping grounds. 

 „Par ses caractères extérieurs, elle se rapprocherait davantage du Thca 

 „assamica que du Thea sinensis." 



As 1 already remarked in the geographical part, I cannot judge of the 

 reliability of this case, f.i. the contiguity of inhabited and tilled land ; the 

 chance of seed importation having taken place and having passed into 

 oblivion ; the gênerai character and probable âge of the forests explored 

 by Eberhardt ; and so forth. Ail thèse points ought to be taken into 

 careful considération before a décisive conclusion as to the systematical 

 significance of the discovery could be reached. But that the exertions made 

 in récent times by the energetic French botanist, Mr. A. Chevalier, will 

 ultimately lead to discoveries of the highest scientific and practical im- 

 portance, I think this is an admissable anticipation, in proportion to the 

 remarkable facts already brought to light in connection with Yun-nan and 

 its Southern border-lands. ') 



1 will now epitomize the systematical data collected in the preced- 

 ing pages. 



LiNNÉ's Thea sinensis of 1753 was in 1762 broken up into the species 

 Thea hohea and Thea viridis. Both species were insufficiently defined by 

 the number of petals and by the admittedly différent product. Aiton split 

 the species T. bohea into the varieties laxa and stricta, which, as indeed 

 ail the distinctions made at that early period, cannot be known again 

 any more now. 



Von Siebold restores the ancient name Thea sinensis L. and divides 

 it into 4 varieties: stricta, Sieb., riigosa Sieb. = laxa Ait., diffusa Sieb. 



') Mr. Chevalier kindly sent me of late tliree samples of wild-growing tea- which 

 lie had collected on the Mt. Bavi, in Phu-Tho and near Nhatrong (An-nani). The 

 first has a very peculiar fruit, and is apparently not a Camellia tlieifera, ttie other 

 spécimens are, I think, genuine tea with a medium-sized leaf. As however flowers 

 are absolutely wanting, it is impossible to décide. It is extremely important that 

 in Southern An-nam {\V> N.L.) wild tea has been found! Vide A. Chevalier 1919. 



