530 Description of the Species of Camellia and Thea. 



plentiful, it was found to succeed equally well in a much 

 lower temperature, and is now considered sufficiently hardy 

 to endure the common winters of this climate with only a 

 slight protection in very severe weather, as is the case with 

 many other plants which have been introduced from the same 

 interesting country. It is of free growth, and, in China, is 

 said to attain the height of one of our Cherry-trees. 



The stem is erect and branching, of a pale brown colour. The branches are 

 round, clothed with numerous alternate thick ovate-acuminate dark shining green 

 leaves, each about three inches long and two inches broad, tapering towards the 

 base and point, and having their edges sharply serrated and waved. The mid- 

 rib is strong and prominent on both sides of the leaf, but is most conspicuous on 

 the lower side, which is somewhat veiny, and of a pale shining green, covered 

 with numerous small dots. The footstalks are about half an inch long, quite 

 smooth, and slightly channelled on the upper side ; otherwise they are round, and 

 of the same yellowish green colour as the midrib. Flower-bud oval, and much 

 pointed, covered with seven or eight roundish-cordate pale green pubescent 

 scales, which generally become brown, and drop when the flower is fully ex- 

 panded. The flowers are freely produced, and open in the winter and early spring 



"two inches in expansion, and are composed of five, sometimes seven, roundish or 

 roundish-cordate petals, each of which is about an inch in diameter, imbricated 

 and connected together at the base, but opening so as to have an upright bell- 

 shaped appearance. They are of a bright rose or red colour, and veined with 

 darker coloured lines. In the centre of the flower rise the stamina, which are 

 filiform, thick and fleshy at their base, and united to the petals as well as to one 

 another, thereby forming a kind of cylindrical cup, of a yellowish white colour. 

 The anthers are large, and of a deep yellow. The styles are generally three, 

 closely connected together, excepting at the point, which is of a greenish colour ; 

 they are about the same length as the stamina. The seeds frequently come to 

 maturity, and are contained in a woody pear-shaped capsule, slightly furrowed, 

 having as many divisions as there are styles or furrows, with one or two perfect 

 seeds in each, and several small imperfect ones ; the former resemble a small 

 brown nut, but are somewhat angular, and indented on the side next to the axis. 



Good figures have been given of this species in the Bota- 

 nical Magazine, t. 42 ; in Schneevooght's Icones, 7 ; and in 

 Curtis's Monograph, f. 1. It is a much more common plant 

 than any of the preceding, being readily increased by cut- 

 tings, on which account it is of great value to the cultivator, 



They are from one and a half to 



