THE 



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THE 



rated from each other by several intervening "genera : they 

 are however too closely allied to allow of this separa- 

 tion. Distinctions have been made in the fruit of the two 

 genera. That of Thea is three-lobed with obtuse cor- 

 ners and opening along the middle of the lobes, that is, 

 having the dissepiments opposite to the valves, or, as ex- 

 jircssed by modern botanists, having a loculicidal dehiscence. 

 Camellia, on the contrary, is described as having its fruit 

 obscurely triangular, without any tendency to become deeply 

 three-lobed, with the margins of the valves turned inwards 

 and forming the dissepiments, which thus alternate with 

 the valves, and have what is now called a septicedal 

 dehiscence. Mr. Griffith, on the contrary, who is well 

 qualified to form a correct opinion, states, from examina- 

 tion of the Assamese tea-plant and of two species of Camel- 

 lia from the Khosiya Hills, that there is no difference 

 between Thea and Camellia. The dehiscence in both, he 

 says, is of the same nature, that is, loculicidal, and the only 

 difference that does really exist is simply of specific value, 

 consisting in the fruits of the tea-plant being three-lobed, 

 of the Camellia triangular. 



The species of the genus Thea are few in number; some 

 botanists are of opinion that even these are varieties of a 

 single species. Before proceeding to discuss the question 

 of the species which yield the teas of commerce, it is 

 desirable to notice those which are usually described as 

 distinct in systematic works. 



T. viridis is a large, strong-growing, almost hardy 

 plant, with spreading branches, its leaves three to five 

 inches long, thin, almost membranous, very broadly lan- 

 ceolate, light green and wavy, with large and irregular 

 serratures, the flowers large, usually solitary, mostly con- 

 fined to the upper axil, with 5 sepals and from 5 to 

 7 petals ; fruit nodding. This species is figured by Dr. 

 Lettsom in his account of the tea-plant, t. 1, and by Dr. 

 (now Sir W.) Hooker, Bot. Mag., t. 3148, and in Loddiges' 

 But. Cab., t. 227, all from plants which have flowered in 

 this country. Kaempfer supplies a very good figure, 

 Amceti. Erot., p. 607, from a Japanese plant. This species 

 is found both in China and Japan, and is supposed to be 

 - which yields the green tea of commerce. It 

 '. 'L'en long introduced into this country ; having been 

 first sent from Japan in 1687 to the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and thence into Europe. Lettsom, in 1772, states that within 

 these few years a few genuine tea-plants had been intro- 

 duced into England, that the largest tea-plant was then at 

 Kew, and the first that ever flowered was at Sion House, 

 but the seeds never germinated. Murray, App. Medic.am . 

 iv., p. 227, mentions that the green tea-plant was, in 1778, 

 sold in London for ten shillings and sixpence, but the black 

 or bohea tea-plant for one guinea. The green tea-plants 

 are much more hardy than the black in this climate, being 

 kept out in the open air with little protection during 

 the winter, as at Kew, at Messrs. Loddiges, and even as far 

 north as Forfar. 



T. Rohea is a smaller plant than T. viridi.i: its branches 

 'iff and straight, its stem erect, the leaves not above 

 half or two-thirds of the size of the former species, elliptical 

 oblong, perfectly flat, more coriaceous, of a dark green 

 colour, with small and even serratures ; they are numer- 

 ous, and have in their axils two or three flowers, of 5 sepals 

 and 5 petals, these are smaller and have a, slight fragrance, 

 and flower later in the season than T. viridis. The plant 

 is much more tender than the green tea-plant, and unable 

 to stand the cold of an English climate. It is supposed by 

 some to yield the leaves which are converted into black 

 U :!, and, notwithstanding contrary statements, leaves simi- 

 lar to those of this plant may be recognised on infusing 

 and spreading out the leaves of some of the black teas of 

 commcire. A variety of this is sometimes called T.stricla. 

 ligured by Lettsom, ed. 2, p. 41, who considers it only 

 of the former. It is also figured by Loddiges, 

 t . 220, who, as well as Sir W. Hooker and Dr. 

 , considers it to be a distinct species. 

 The Assam tea-plant, which has lately attracted so much 

 attention, seems to partake of the characters of both the 

 foregoing. The Calcutta Tea Committee say, in 1835, 

 ' \Vt- are now enabled to state with certainty, that not only 

 is it a genuine tea, but that no doubt can be entertained 

 of its being the identical tea of China, which is the exclu- 

 sive source of all the varieties and shades of the tea of 

 commerce.' To this it may replied, that there are consider- 

 able doubts whether the teas of commerce are all derived 



from one species of plant. Mr. Griffith says, in the size both 

 of the pi ant and of the leaves, as well as inthe texture of these 

 last, and in its stations, the Assamese plant approaches to the 

 green tea-plant of China ; in its geographical distribution, so 

 far as latitude is concerned, it approaches to the black tea. 

 The inflorescence of the Assamese plant varies, but perhaps 

 its usual state is to have the flowers solitary in the axils of 

 the leaves, but the number of flowers varies from one to five. 

 The plants introduced into this country have their leaves 

 much larger and thicker than those pf the green tea-plant, 

 and Messrs. Loddiges find that it requires a much greater 

 degree of heat, in fact that of the hot-house, while the 

 others are in the open air for a great part of the year. 



Two other species, described by Loureiro, are little known, 

 as T. Cochinchinensis, about eight feet high, having lan- 

 ceolate leaves, flowers of 3 to 5 sepals and 5 petals, solitary, 

 terminal ; found wild in the north of Cochinchina, where it 

 is also cultivated, being used medicinally by the natives as 

 a diaphoretic. T. oleosa is also a shrub of eight feet high, 

 found in the fields in the neighbourhood of Canton, and 

 named from its seeds yielding a large quantity of oil, which 

 is used for burning and as an article of diet. The leaves 

 are lanceolate, the flowers, of 6 sepals and 6 petals, pedun- 

 cles 3-flowered axillary ; fruit stated to be indehiscent, 

 rather a berry than a capsule. 



The species of Camellia, which are so closely allied to 

 those of Thea, have already been mentioned under CA- 

 MELLIA, asC.Japotiica, maliflora, reticulata. C.Sasanqua, 

 and Euryoides are other Chinese species. C. drupifera is 

 a native of Cochinchina ; while C. Kissi and Caudata, with 

 oleaefolia and Scottiana, two doubtful species, are found in 

 the mountains near Munnipore, Pundua, and Silhet, and in 

 those surrounding the valley of Nepaul. A third genuine 

 species occurs on the Naga range, towards the eastern 

 extremity of the valley of Assam. It is well known to 

 the Assamese and Singphos by the name of Bun Fullup, 

 or jungle tea, being used by them as a medicine. A fourth 

 species was found by Dr. Wallich about Tingrei. 



Besides the characters of the several species of Thea, we 

 have to notice the parts of the country where the culti- 

 vated species are found, as many practical questions of 

 considerable importance are connected with the subject. 

 But here it is difficult to be precise in our statements, be- 

 cause we are without positive information from the tea 

 districts of China, and also because it is still doubtful 

 whether one or more species yield the teas of com- 

 merce in permanent varieties, or whether the differences 

 in teas are owing solely to differences in manufacture. 

 Tea is cultivated in China over a great extent of territory. 

 ]>i\ Wallich mentions it as being cultivated in Cochin 

 China, in 17" N. lat. We know it is cultivated in the 

 southern provinces of Yunnan and of Canton. If we 

 proceed north we find the principal cultivation of teas 

 for the foreign trade is between 27 and 31" N. lat. : 

 but tea is said to be produced in several places to the 

 northward of 31; even in 36, and also in the Japanese 

 Islands, which extend from 30 to 41 N. lat. It has 

 been disputed whether the tea-plant is cultivated in 

 plains or mountainous situations. It is generally stated 

 to be cultivated in hilly situations. Grozier states that 

 the songlo-tcha (our green tea) takes its name from the 

 mountain Song-lo, situated in the province of Kiangnan, 

 in 30 N. lat., while the bou-y tcha (bohea) takes its 

 name also from a mountain called Bou-y, situated in the 

 province of Fo-kien. Mr. Cunningham (when Chusan had 

 formerly a British factory) collected specimens on the tops 

 of mountains, where the tea-plant flourished along with 

 pines. His specimens are still in the British Museum. 

 The deputation sent into Assam to examine the sites of 

 the tea, saw it growing in the valley of Assam, and were 

 thus led to think that it must grow in similar situations 

 in China : but even in Assam it is also found on hills ; and 

 there is no doubt it is found in both situations in China, 

 and in many which must be moist. There is nothing im- 

 probable in a plant being so found which is so extensively 

 diffused from north to south ; but it is probable that the 

 finest varieties of tea are cultivated in the drier soils, and 

 in situations exposed to light and air : in fact, the Chinese 

 tea-makers in Assam state that in China the teas from the 

 sunny tracts are the best. Some soils in which the tea-plant 

 is cultivated in China yielded, on analysis, in 200 parts of 

 silex, 135 ; alumina, 36 ; carbonate of magnesia, 6 ; car- 

 bonate of lime, 4 ; oxide of iron, 13 ; roots and fibres of 



