Camellia hongkongensis

Camellia hongkongensis (Chinese: 香港茶; lit.: 'Hong Kong tea'), the Hong Kong camellia, is a species of camellia.

Camellia hongkongensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Camellia
Species:
C. hongkongensis
Binomial name
Camellia hongkongensis
Seem.

Description

Camellia hongkongensis is a small evergreen tree which can grow to 10 metres (33 ft) feet tall. Of the camellia species native to Hong Kong, only this species bears red flowers.

Its young branches are reddish brown. The leaves are leathery and oblong with 7–13 cm long. The young branches and leaf are glabrous.[2]

Distribution

In Hong Kong, three individuals of the species were first discovered in a ravine in Victoria Peak by Colonel Eyre in 1849. It was later found in Pok Fu Lam, Mount Nicholson, Mount Parker on Hong Kong Island. It is also found in Guangdong.[2]

Specimens of the Hong Kong camellia are living in the Shing Mun Arboretum public gardens.[3] In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A.

Camellia hongkongensis was introduced to Japan in 1958 from Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

References
  1. Rivers, M.C. & Wheeler, L. (2015). Camellia hongkongensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T62053609A62053612. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T62053609A62053612.en. Downloaded on 22 October 2018.
  2. "Hong Kong Herbarium: Camellia hongkongensis". Archived from the original on 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2006-06-14.
  3. "27. 香港茶 Camellia hongkongensis". Archived from the original on 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2006-06-14.
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