POLYANDRIA. 
( 21 ) 
B O H E A T E A. 
W E have long queftion’d whether the Green and Bohea Tea were, or were 
not the Produce of the fame Shrub : moft thought they were ; their 
Difference being attributed only to the State of Growth wherein the 
Leaves were gather’d ; and the various Method of curing them. I think it is 
otherwife. Certainly I have received among my China Plants, two Specimens 
under the Name of Tea, which differ obvioufly in Leaf and Flower. That 
which I figure here, has fhorter and darker Leaves, and in each Flower fix Pe- 
tals : this, from the Colour of the Leaf, I fancy to be the Bohea. The other 
has longer and paler Leaves, and in every Flower nine Petals ; that I fuppofe 
to be the Green. Whether this be the Cafe, muft be found by more Experi- 
ence : and if they really be the Produce of two diftin£l: Shrubs, we are yet to 
learn whether the Difference be as Species, or only as Varieties. One Thing, 
befide the Difference of Form and Colour of the Leaf, feem’d, in the Courfe 
of thefe Experiments, to fhew that they were really the two Kinds I have con- 
jefifur’d. The Water in which this Specimen was macerated, had the Colour 
and the Tafte of genuine Bohea Tea ; and that which was us’d for the other, 
had as palpably the proper Afperit of Green Tea j only made very ftrong 5 and 
perhaps, colour’d a little from the Bark. 
^ I - 
Befide, the greater Diftinrifions, there was fbmething in the Colour of the An- 
therae or Buttons. They were Orange-colour’d in the One, and of a pale Yel- 
low in the other. I fpeak of fuch as were burft, for there were fome unripe 
ones which were white. f 
The Clafs to which this and the other belong, is very evident. They have 
a vaft Multitude of Filaments, and thefe rife from the Receptacle : therefore 
the Shrub is of the Polyandrous Tribe. 1 
The Cup is fmall 5 the Filaments are Innumerable : the Seed-veffel, when per- 
fect, conlifts of three Parts, in each of which is a fingle Seed. We have la- : 
mented often, that the Seeds do not come over perfe^, and found enough to i 
grow when planted here, as many other of the China Seeds freely enough do ; j 
and it has been fuppos’d, the People of that Country, who are celebrated for ^ 
their Cunning, took fome Meafures to prevent this before they fuffer’d the ' 
Seeds to be exported. But it is all eafily refolv’d into the common State of 
Nature. 
Many Seeds, with us, will not grow, if they be not fown foon after Ripenefs : 
even the Acorn, which one would think, at firft Sight, durable 5 loofes its 
Power of Vegetation in a very moderate Time. The Fad is this : thofe Seeds 
which are moft fubje6l: to a Fermentation in their own Subftance, fooneft loofe 
the Power of Growth ; and this is one of them. 
Perhaps a better Method of preferving the Seeds may anfwer the Purpofe ; 
and if that can be done, I believe it will be now effe£l:ed. A Nobleman, whofe 
Regard to Botany I have had frequent Caufe to mention in this Work, has 
contriv’d a Method, which will, I think, fucceed. 
Thea. LInnasus, 
GREEN 
