THE CAMELLIA. 379 



of China, producing white flowers in February. Intro- 

 duced in 1811. 



There are also enumerated in the same work two 

 hundred varieties of C. japonica, three varieties of C. 

 Sasanqua the plena alba (white), the plena rubra (red), 

 and the semi-plena (red). 



The species of most interest from the decorative point 

 of view, C. japonica, is thus described "Leaves ovate, 

 acuminate, acutely serrated ; flowers axillary, sessile, 

 usually solitary ; ovary smooth. Native of Japan and 

 China." 



The C. Sasanqua, although not introduced till 1811, 

 is figured in An Historical Account of the Embassy to China, 

 by Sir George Staunton, Bart., published in 1797. The 

 writer says of it : " The petals of this plant, called by the 

 Chinese cha-whaw, or flower of tea, from their resemblance 

 to each other, and likewise the flowers of the Arabian 

 Jessamine, are sometimes mixed among the teas in order 

 to increase their flavour. The Camellia Sasanqua, which 

 grows upon the tops and sides of mountains, is assiduously 

 cultivated. It bears a nut from which is expressed an 

 edible oil equal to the best imported from Florence." 



This species and its varieties, however interesting from 

 a botanical point of view, is now but little cultivated, 

 the varieties of C. japonica being more highly prized 

 by English amateurs and gardeners. 



THE HISTORY OF THE CAMELLIA. 



The Camellia japonica or Japan Rose, the species from 

 which nearly all of our more valued garden varieties are 

 descended is, as we have already seen, said to have been 

 introduced in 1739 ; but it is not mentioned in the 6th 

 edition of Miller's Gardeners' Dictionary, published in 

 1771. Notwithstanding this, I find it thus described in 

 A History of Plants, by John Hill, M.D., published in 

 1751: "Camellia. The calyx is imbricated, and com- 

 posed of several leaves, the interior of which are the 



