The Tea family - THEACEAE
It includes 40 genera of shrubs and trees, including the economically important tea plant, and the ornamental camellias.
Found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, Theaceae has the following features:
🍂Leaves: Most Theaceae plants have simple, alternate leaves that are usually evergreen. The leaves are often glossy and leathery, with serrated/toothed margins. and prominent veins The toothed margins are generally associated with a characteristic Theoid leaf tooth, which is crowned by a glandular, deciduous tip. They may be arranged spirally or arranged alternately in two opposite vertical rows.
🌷Flowers: Theaceae plants are known for their showy flowers, which are often large and colorful (generally white or pink). The flowers are usually bisexual, with 5 free sepals and 5-9 free petals and numerous stamens. The ovary is generally hairy and superior. The flowers may be solitary or borne in clusters.
🍒Fruits: The fruits are loculicidal capsules, berries or achenes. The seeds are few and sometimes winged, or in some genera covered by fleshy tissue or unwinged and nude
Examples: Some of the most well-known tropical Theaceae plants include:
🌷Camellia sinensis: This species is commonly known as the tea plant and is grown commercially for its leaves, which are used to produce tea.
🌷Camellia azalea/Camellia changii: This species native to China, is a popular ornamental shrub with showy red flowers.
🌷Camellia japonica: This species is a popular ornamental plant with large, showy flowers that can be white, pink, or red.
🌷Singapore Gordonia (Polyspora singaporeana ) This species is evergreen tree up to about 31 m tall. It is native to Singapore and Malaysia. It has cream-white-petalled, scentless flowers that open at dusk, with the petals falling off the next morning. Its oblong woody fruits, about 3 cm long, split into five parts to reveal flat, winged seeds. It is valued for its timber used in boat making.
🌷Needlewood (Schima wallichii) It is a tree up to 25 m tall, native to Indo-China and South East Asia. It is a shade tree commonly planted in coffee plantations and is also valued for its wood.
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