POLYANDRIA. 
( 2.2 ) 
green tea. 
I F there were no Value in this Shrub, as Tea, its Beauty is fufficient to re- 
commend it to our Notice ; and I am in no doubt, but a few Years more 
will add it to our Collections. We admire the double bloffom’d Cherry, 
and fome other Trees, whofe Flowers refemble thofe which cover the Greens 
Tea Shrub, but they are inferior to thefe : no Whitenefs can excel that which 
we fee in them ; and their Difpofition in little Tufts and elegant loofe Clufters 
upon the Summits of the tendereft Branches, give the whole Plant a lingular 
Beauty. 
Why I have call’d this the Green Tea, has been laid in the preceding Chap- 
ter : perhaps it is an Error, but there is Appearance of Truth on its Side^ 
Certainly it is Tea ; and the AfpeCl: dilfers from that of the more dufky Plant 
preceding. Linnaeus, faw in various Parcels of Tea, Flowers with fix, and 
others with nine Petals ; and queftions whether they belong’d to the fame Spe- 
cies, or to two diftinCt ones. Thefe Specimens fhewed the fame Variety of 
Flowers, and Ihewed them growing on Boughs, whofe Leaves were alfo dif- 
ferent: the Eye here feems to have anlwer’d that Queftion and the Talle 
confirm’d its Judgment, yet more Proof is wanted ; for he were very ralh who 
Ihould found an abfolute Diftin(^ion upon one Specimen. 
’Tis certain the Chinese gather the Bohea and the Green Tea at different 
Periods of Growth: and they have many other Particularities relating to an Ar- 
ticle of fuch Importance. But tho’ the Accounts of thefe led Europeans to 
believe the fame Shrub produc’d both 5 they did not fairly induce that Opinion. 
It may be true, that Bohea Tea is gather’d at one Period of Growth 5 and 
Green Tea at another : and yet it may be true alfo, that they are feparate 
Shrubs which produce them. The Time of gathering would make fome Dif- 
ference if they were the Leaves of the fame Species j but this does not prove 
that they are fo : nor has any Writer of fufficient Accuracy for the Obfervatiod 
faid it. 
The Flowers have not at all the Tafte or Flavour of the Leaf. They are 
harlh, rough, and very plealant : the Buds, before they open, have indeed a 
high and very fine Flavour, like that of the fineft Green Tea, but more de- 
licate. 
> We are not to wonder, that the Seeds brought over into Europe do not 
grow j for it is an Obfervation of the honeft Kampfer, who had feen the Culture 
of the Shrub in Japan, that even there, not above two in ten fucceeded when 
they were fown for railing the Plant for Ufe. He attributes this to an oily 
Matter in them, which grows quickly rancid. How philofophical this Solu- 
tion may be, I lhall not take upon me to determine ; but Doubtlels it is ow- 
ing to Ibme Change wrought in the Subftance of the Seed itfelf, that it is lb 
apt to fail. If any Thing can prevent this, and preferve it during fo long d 
Voyage, probably it will be now found. 
F R A- 
Thea. Linnseus. 
