— 275 — 



for the first time with Link (1822)'), who used it to deslgncite Thea bohea 

 L.; Brandis (1874)2) was the first, KuRZ (1874)3) the second to apply it 

 in the sensé of Chinese 4- Indian tea. But Thiselton Dyer had got the 

 start of him and chosen the name C. theifera for the same combination ; 

 accordingly, Brandis mentions Dyer's synonym, not conversely. Though 

 the term C. theifera was published only a few nionths before C. Thea ^), 

 this of course suffices to deprive the latter of its priority. 



We may résume ail questions connected with the nomenclature oftea 

 in the following terms: 



1. The generic name Thea is certainly incorrect, 

 Camellia is the sole exact name. 



2. Thea sinensis (L.) Sims has therefore certainly become 

 obsolète; Camellia sinensis (L.) O.K. is in accordance with the inter- 

 national rules, but Linné's dénomination of 1753 did not include Assam tea. 



3. Camellia Thea (Link) Brandis is certainly to be excluded, 

 since the union of China and India tea was earlier effectuated under the 

 name C. theifera (Griffith) Dyer. 



4. It is désirable to use C. theifera in stead of C. sinensis. 



It is this collective species Camellia theifera (Griff.) Dyer for which 

 I propose the subséquent 



Diagnosis. 



Tree or shrub. Young shoots and leaves almost glabrous or pubescent. 

 Older twigs chestnut-coloured, grey-brown or grey. Leaves lanceolate, 

 elliptic or obovate, more or less acuminate, serrated; leathery and smooth 

 or thin and bullate and somewhat crisp in the margin ; glabrous or thinly 

 haired on the under surface, especially near the midrib; upper side dull 

 or shining, under side dull and lighter coloured. Leaf buds thin and pointed. 

 Flower buds globular. on pendulous stalks, originating from either side 

 of ihe axillary buds ^). Inflorescence with 1 or 2, up to 3-5 flowers ^); 

 pedicel provided with 2-3 bracts which usually fall off very soon. Flowers 

 white, fragrant, about 3 cM. in diameter. Calyx permanent, leathery, glossy, 

 as a rule glabrous; sepals round, ciliated, varying in number from 5-7. 

 Petals equally 5-7, obovate, externally convex, generally glabrous, fusing 

 at their base with each other and with the stamens, and falling off as 

 a whole. Stamens very numerous, glabrous, united at their base. Ovary 

 coated with shining white hairs, sometimes nearly glabrous, 3-4-celled ; 

 style glabrous, as a rule united 2/3 ofitslength (or, more exactly expressed: 



') H. F. Link 1822, il p. 73. 



2) D. BRANDIS 1874, p. 25. 



3) S. KuRZ 1874. p. 94. 



'') Dyer's paper was published January 1874, Brandis's préface is dated March 1874, 



the paper of KURZ was read August 5th, issiied October 17th 1874. 

 ') The inflorescence of tea wijl be dealt with in the second division of my paper. 



