NAT. ORDER 



Theacece. 



THEA. TEA TREE. 



Class XIII. PoLYANDRiA. Order I. Monogynia. 

 Gen. Char. Corolla, six or nine-petalled. Calyx, five or six- 

 leaved. Capsules, tricoccus. 



Sjye. Char. Leaves, elliptical, oblong, and rugose. 



This is a small evergreen shrub, much branched, and covered 

 with a rough dark grey bark ; the leaves are elliptical, or lanceo- 

 late, entire, alternate, obtusely serrated, veined, and placed on 

 short footstalks ; the cahjx is small, smooth, persistent, and di%'ided 

 into five obtuse segments ; the Jloicers are white, often two or thi*ee 

 together, on separate peduncles, and placed at the axillte of the 

 leaves ; the corolla vai'ies in the number and size of its petals, but 

 most commonly six, which are of an irregular, roundish form ; the 

 filaments are numerous, short, and inserted at the base of the co- 

 rolla ; the anthers are large and yellow ; the germen is roundish, 

 or rather triangular ; the style is trifid, spreading at the top, and 

 furnished with simple stigmas ; the capsule is three-celled, and 

 opening ; the seeds are three, oblong and brown. 



This most valuable shrub is a native of China and Japan, and, 

 as history informs us, was first introduced into England in 1768, 

 by John Ellis, Esq., who raised it from seed, and presented it to 

 the king's gardener at Kew. But we are informed by other wri- 

 ters, that the Tea-plant which first flowered in Europe, belonged 

 to his grace, the duke of Northumberland, at Sion-house. 



Vol ii— 88 



