BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FORM. 41 



a, Gunpowder. I Young Hyson, c Imperial, d Hyson, t Twankey. 



Thea Viridis, 



Is a large, hardy, strong-growing shrub, with spreading 

 branches and leaves one to two inches long, thin, weavy 

 and almost membraneous, broadly lanceolate, but irregu- 

 larly serrated and light-green in color. The flowers are 

 large, white, solitary and mostly confined to the upper 

 axil, having five sepals and seven petals, the fruit or pod 

 being purple, nodding and three-seeded. It thrives with- 

 out protection in the open air during winter, and is 

 undoubtedly the species yielding the bulk of the Green 

 teas of commerce. 



