258 
NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 
characters and their different properties to the various modes of pre- 
paration to which the leaf is often submitted, and doubtless also 
to the age at which it is gathered.' The azotic,’ aromatic,’ and 
astringent principles to which Tea owes its virtues appear to exist 
only in very small proportions in the other plants of the family.’ 
The species of the subgenus Camellia are, however, sometimes en- 
dowed with a tolerably strong perfume, especially 7. Sasanqua,’ 
a species used in China to aromatize the tea. Its seeds yield an oil 
contained abundantly in their fleshy embryo, which is employed in 
the same way as that of 7° drupifera and japonica.’ ‘This latter, 
under the name of Camellia, is one of the most celebrated ornamental 
plants. Some other Zerustrwmiacee are astringent, especially the 
American species of the genus Gordonia, G. pubescens,’ and Lasianthus® 
(figs. 254, 255), the bark of which is rich in tannin, and is used in dye- 
ing and in the preparation of skins. 
Visnea Mocanera® (fig. 264) has 

1 See GRUNDH., in Neu, Jarb. d. Pharm. 
xxviii, 201. — GuiB., loc.- cit., .629. Ac- 
cording to the latter, the principal sorts of 
green tea, being those which are called in 
commerce: Hysun, Young Hyson, Gunpowder, 
and (Fr.) Chulan. “ Chulan is only Hyson 
artificially aromatized (with Camellia Sasan- 
qua aud Mogorium Sambac, Olea fragrans) ; 
Gunpowder tea is only green tea chopped and 
rolled. Young Hyson (Fr. perlé) only differs 
from Hyson inasmuch as its leaves are smaller ; 
which can be accounted for by its being gathered 
at a less advanced age.” As to the principal 
black teas called Bohea, Souchong, Pekoe, which 
are distinguished by their brown colour, and the 
almost complete absence of a principle (tannic) 
having affinity with oxygen, “they might be 
thought to be the production of a distinct 
species; but it is possible that their difference 
may result from the leaves having been treated 
with water or steam, or submitted to the com- 
mencement of fermentation. 
2 Which is theine, similar to caffeine 
(C"H?°Az4044 H?0?), M. PELIGOT points out 
another azotic principle analogous to the caseine 
of milk. 
3 It is a yellowish thick essence, with a very 
strong odour, “ stupefying.” 
4 Eroteum theoides Sw., (Prodr., 85) is em- 
ployed in Jamaica as a substitute for tea, so that 
experimental researches might be made in other 
species of the same genus, and upon the 
Japanese and Indian Æurya, which might be 
cultivated in the south of Europe. 
5 T.oleosa Lour,, Fl. Cocinch. (ed. 1790), 
339.—DC., Prodr., i. 530, n. 3.—ROSENTH., 
op. cit,, 739.— Camellia Sasanqua THUNB., F1. 
Jap., 273, t. 30.—Stms., in Bot. Mag., t. 2080. 
—Ker, in Bot. Reg., t. 567.—Sraunt., Amb. 
Chin., ii. 466, ic.—DC., Prodr., i. 529, n. 2.— 
SEEM., in Zrans, Linn. Soc., xxii. 343, 351.— 
Hook., in Bot, Mag., t. 5152 (flor. flav.)—C. 
oleifera ABEL., Chin, Journ., 174, ic.—SEEM., in 
Bonplandia, vi. 278.— Susanqua  KÆMPF. 
Amen, Exot., 853. 
5 Camellia drupifera Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 
(ed. 1790), 411.—DC., Prodr., n. 5.—SFEM., in 
Trans. Linn. Soc. xxii. 344—C, Kissi WALL., 
in As. Res., xiii. (ex DC. Prodr., n. 4).— 
C. Keimia Ham.— C. Chamgota Ham., (ex 
Cuots.).—C. Mastersiana Grir¥.—C. symploci- 
folia Grirr., Notul., t. 604, fig. 2 (ex SEEM.). 
—C. oleifera WaAut., Cat., n. 976 (nec ABEL).— 
Mesua bracteata SPRENG., Syst., iii, 127 (ex 
SEEM.) 
7L., Spec., 982.—DC., Prodr., i. 529, n. 1. 
8 See Cotta, Camelliogr., Torino (1843).— 
Baumann, Bolweill. Camell. (1829-31). — 
Cuanvt., Camell, Brit. (1825). —Cuannu. & 
Boot, Ill. and Deser. Camell. (1831).— 
BERLESE, Icon, du g. Camell, (1839) ; Monogr. 
du g. Camell. (1840),—Watp., Ann., vii. 370. 
9 Pursu., Fl. Bor.-Am., 451.—DC., Prodr., 
i. 528, n. 5.—Franklinia americana Mansi, 
Arbr., 48. — Lacathea florida SALISB., Par, 
Lond., t. 56. 
10 L., Mantiss., 570.—Cav., Diss., t. 161.— 
DC., Prodr., n. 1— Hypericum Lasianthus L. 
(vulg. Loblolly Boy). 
NL, vin, Suppl., 86.—WEBs8., Phyt. Canar., 
t. 69, B.—Souacut, in Bot, Zeit. (1859), 368 ; 
Zur Kennt. d. Visnea, Regensb. (1859), ic, 
—Rosentu., op. cit, 737. It is especially 
employed in the treatment of hemorrhoids, 
