48 Discovery of the Tea Plant in Assam. [Jan. 



By this process six valves are, properly speaking, formed, (and not 

 three, as they are generally counted,) each lobe splitting into two 

 hemispherical valves. The partitions alternate with the lobes, and are 

 formed bv the sides of two adjoining cells being, as it were, glued to- 

 gether, and extending to the axis of the capsule, from which they at 

 length completely detach themselves, when it disappears altogether. 

 The seeds or nuts are almost globular. 



In Camellia the capsule is very obscurely triangular without any 

 tendency to become deeply three-lobed. It bursts along the middle of 

 each side (consequently alternately with the corners) into three very 

 distinct valves, each of which belongs to two adjoining cells, because 

 the three partitions originate lengthwise from the middle of the re- 

 spective valves, and are therefore opposite or contrary to these, con- 

 verging from thence to the triangular axis, from which they gradually 

 separate, leaving it finally unconnected and free. The seeds are of an 

 oval oblong shape, smaller than those of the tea. 



The preceding remarks are made with reference chiefly to the 

 Assam Tea and the Nipal Camellia; and purposely without technical 

 precision, the object being simply to convey a general idea of the 

 structure of the two sorts of fruit. But they admit of being applied 

 with safety to all other instances of comparison between the genera in 

 question. 



References to the Figures in Plate III. 



A The Assam tea. Figs. 1, 2, 3, ripe capsules scarcely enlarged; 

 at 1, seen from below, deeply three-lobed ; 2, the common form, com- 

 mencing to burst ; 3, the same completely burst open, and discovering 

 the seeds ; 4, the same, the seeds being removed, and one of these re- 

 presented separately ; of the natural size ; 5, the lower half of a ripe 

 capsule divided by an horizontal section and the seeds removed, exhi- 

 biting the places of dehiscence along the angles or lobes, and the par- 

 titions alternating with these and separating from the axis ; a little en- 

 larged ; 6, outline of a full-grown leaf, of the natural dimensions. 



B The Nipal Camellia (C. kissi). Fig. 7, ripe and entire capsule 

 slightly enlarged ; 8 and 9, the same after bursting, the free axis being 

 seen in the last figure ; 10, a horizontal section as in the tea, much en- 

 larged, representing the places of bursting, which alternate with the 

 angles of the fruit, the partitions which are opposite to the angles of the 

 fruit, and the valves, separating from the free axis ; 1 1 , a detached 

 seed, natural size ; 12, outline of a full grown leaf. 



(Signed), N. Wallich, M. D. 



Off. Sec. to the Com. of Tea Cult. 



H. C. Bot. Garden, Dec. 24, 1834. 



