NAT. ORDER 
Theaceee. 
THEA TEA TREE. 
Class XIII. PoLYANDRiA. Order I. Monogynia. 
Gen. Char. Corolla, six or nine-petalled. Calyx, five or six- 
leaved. Capsules, tricoccus. 
&]je. Char. Leaves, elliptical, oblong, and rugose. 
This is a small evergreen shrub, much branched, and covered 
with a rough dark grey bark ; the leaves are elliptical, or lanceo- 
late, entire, alternate, obtusely serrated, veined, and placed on 
short footstalks ; the calyx is small, smooth, persistent, and divided 
into five obtuse segments ; the Jlowers Q,re white, often two or three 
together, on separate peduncles, and placed at the axillae of the 
leaves ; the corolla varies in the number and size of its petals, but 
most commonly six, which are of an irregular, roundish form ; the 
filaments are numerous,' short, and inserted at the base of the co- 
rolla ; the anthers are large and yellow ; the germen is roundish, 
or rather triangular ; the style is trifid, spreading at the top, and 
furnished with simple stigmas ; the capsule is three-celled, and 
opening ; the seeds are three, oblong and brown. 
This most valuable shruh is a native of China and Japan, and, 
as history informs us, was first introduced into England in 1768, 
by John Ellis, Esq., who raised it from seed, and presented it to 
the king's gardener at Kew. But we are informed by other wri- 
ters, that the Tea-plant which first flowered in Europe, belonged 
to his grace, the duke of Northumberland, at Sion-house. 
Vol ii.— 88 
