150 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Description. — A shrub or small tree, which in a state of nature may attain a height 01 



twenty-five or thirty 

 Fig. 84. ( feet, but which, when 



cultivated, seldom ex- 

 ceeds five or six. The 

 leaves are alternate, 

 with short petioles, 

 very smooth, ovate-ob- 

 long, somewhat acumi- 

 nate, stiff, and coria- 

 ceous, slightly dentate 

 and shining. The 

 flowers are white, axil- 

 lary, and either single 

 or aggregated, on short 

 glabrous peduncles. 

 The calyx is persistent, 

 short, with five ovate, 

 rounded, obtuse divi- 

 sions. The corolla, 

 which is much larger 

 than the calyx, con- 

 sists of from six to nine, 

 somewhat unequal, 

 rounded, very concave 

 petals. The stamens 

 are very numerous, ra- 

 ther shorter than the 

 corolla, with subulate 

 white filaments, bear- 

 ing rounded, reniform 

 anthers, opening at the 

 sides. The ovary is ovate, downy, surrounded by a fleshy ring at base, three-celled, each 

 cell containing two ovules. The styles are three, united below, free above, with obtuse 

 stigmas. The fruit is a three-celled capsule, each cell containing one, sometimes two 



T. sinensis. 



The native country of the tea is the Eastern part of Asia ; it is cultivated 

 in China, Japan, and the adjoining districts and islands, and has also been 

 introduced into Assam and Brazil, in both of which countries it has been 

 found to grow luxuriantly. It is, however, a plant of the temperate zone ; 

 the tea districts in China are thus described by Dr. Abel : that of the Green 

 between 29° and 41° N., and of the Black within the 27th and 28th degree N. 

 The green variety is, therefore, almost a hardy plant, whilst the other will 

 not endure the frosts of winter. 



The different kinds of tea of commerce, as known in Europe and this 

 country, are very numerous, but are far exceeded by those recognised in 

 China. They are all referable to the two great divisions of green and black. 

 The quantity of tea produced in China must be enormous; for the whole 

 supply of the world is derived from that country, as little or no commerce 

 exists with Japan, Cochin China, &c, and though the cultivation of the plant 

 has succeeded in Brazil and Assam, the amount of tea produced has been 

 very small. In China it may be calculated that it is cultivated over a square 

 area of upwards of a million of miles. The tea harvest is said to take place 

 twice a year: the first in the spring, and the last about September. The 

 first gathering affords the finest qualities. The leaves are carried in baskets 

 to the drying-house, and thrown in small quantities on iron plates, heated by- 

 small furnaces, and rapidly shifted about that they may not scorch ; when 

 they begin to curl, they are removed and placed on a table, where they are 



