827 
and it must be allowed, that the two plants differ greatly in the formation 
of the leaves, obvious even to the most inattentive observer. The green tea 
plant has leaves of a larger size than the other, elliptic, sharp-pointed; 
whereas the black is a perfect oval, rounder at the apex, and of an apple- 
green colour, whereas the black is of a dark olive; the former has a very 
wrinkled leaf, the latter perfectly smooth: the textures also differ; the green 
has a much looser texture, hence the one is somewhat transparent, the other 
opake; the green spreads out, w T aving like the leaves of corn, and distant, 
whereas the black are numerous, stiff, and pressed close to the stem: the 
edges also differ; the green is unequally toothed, teeth large, it may be said 
to be jagged; the black is simply serrated, the teeth even, and minute. No 
two plants, therefore, can be more readily discriminated than the black and 
green, although the fructification so greatly resembles in both that these are 
usually not to be distinguished; for the number of petals in both kinds is 
very subject to vary. The leaf of the bohea tea, by the firmness of its 
texture, approaches very near to the Japan Rose (Camellia Japonic.a), 
only these are half the size; and it seems closely allied to this plant, so that 
gardeners also notice this resemblance; and it is curious, that the early 
plants imported to Europe, as the true tree, sold by the Chinese, were 
actually the Camellia Japonica ;* and I think it more than probable, 
that the leaves of this plant are used with the green tea, which may render 
that kind of tea so stimulating; and it is allowed on all hands, thatothis plant 
is intermixed with the green tea, and may produce much pernicious effect 
upon some peuliar habits. But I mention this only as my own imperfect 
conjecture; for, swayed by the general, and now universally received, 
opinion,f I am not indeed allowed to consider the black and green tea 
(Thea nigra et viridis) as forming distinct teas of themselves. 
* Linnaeus endeavoured, for several years, to procure the Tea tree for the Botanic Garden at XJpsal, 
but by a variety of accidents they were all destroyed on the passage. At length, in the year 17-55, 
Lagerstroem, a director of the Swedish East India Company, brought him two plants, which he 
himself obtained in China; but they proved to be the Camellia, the crafty Chinese, says Professor 
Martyn, having plucked away the flowers. In 1769 Ei nnseus received another plant from France; 
but that also proved to be the Camellia, which is now common enough in our green-houses, as being 
a very ornamental plant. But in October 1703 Linnaeus first received the true tea-plant fiom 
Gustavus Ekeberg, captain of a Swedish Indiaman, who raised it from seed on the voyage. The fiist 
that flowered in England w r as at Sion, the seat of the Duke of Northumberland. Martyn. 
-j' Professor Martyn, Dr. Lettsom, Des Fontaine, &c. with all the travellers into China, are 
agreed, that there is no just distinction into the two species here attempted to be formed; yet, if any 
one will take the pains to examine the greens and black teas imported, the distinctions of the leaves 
o 
