520 Description of the Species of Camellia and Tkea. 



briefly notice the great diversity of opinion that has existed 

 among Botanical writers respecting the two genera under 

 consideration. By some the Theas have been referred to 

 Camellia, while others regard them as forming a genus 

 closely allied to, but differing from Camellia in several points, 

 of sufficient importance, to justify their being separated. 

 Linn^us not only considered them as two distinct genera, 

 but as belonging to different classes, under which they will 

 be found arranged in the first and second editions of his 

 Species Plantarum ; the Theas in Polyandria Monogynia, 

 and the Camellias in Monadelphia Polyandria. In the Prae- 

 lectiones in Ordines Naturales, they are brought together, 

 and form part of the natural order Columniferae ; and it has 

 been subsequently remarked by Sir James Edward Smith, 

 in Rees's Cyclopedia (Article Thea) that they ought to stand 

 next to one another in the artificial, as well as in the natural 

 system. 



Willdenow followed the arrangement of Linn^us, which 

 was also adopted in the first and second editions of the 

 Hortus Kewensis, and more recently by Professor Sprengel, 

 in his Systema Vegetabilium. Mr. Ker and Dr. Sims have 

 recorded their opinion in the Botanical Magazine, fol. 998, 

 that the two genera ought to be united, or if they are to be 

 kept distinct, that they should be placed in the same class. 

 This also appears to be the opinion of Mr. Lindley, who 

 has had the best opportunities of examining the genera, and 

 who doubts the existence of any decisive limits by which 

 Camellia is to be distinguished from Thea. He has, how- 

 ever, in the Botanical Register, fol. 1078, given brief cha- 

 racters of the species, which he considers strictly referable to 



