Camellia sasanqua

Camellia sasanqua
Christmas Camellia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Camellia
Species: C. sasanqua
Binomial name
Camellia sasanqua
Thunb.

The Christmas Camellia (Camellia sasanqua) (or Yuletide) is a species of Camellia native to the evergreen coastal forests of southern Japan in Shikoku, Kyūshū and many other minor islands as far south as Okinawa. It is usually found growing up to an altitude of 900 metres.

It is an evergreen shrub growing to 5 m tall. The leaves are broad elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 1.2–3 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The flowers are 5–7 cm diameter, with 5-8 white to dark pink petals.

History and uses

At the beginning of the Edo period, cultivars of Camellia sasanqua began appearing; the first record of the cultivars of this plant was made by Ihei Ito (1695–1733)[1]. In Japan, it is not considered to be a true Camellia as the Japanese call it Sazanka (サザンカ, 山茶花) [2].

Camellia sasanqua was not known in western societies until 1869 when Dutch traders imported some specimens into Europe. It is now also introduced to Australia and the United States[2].

It has a long history of cultivation in Japan for practical rather than decorative reasons. The leaves are used to make tea while the seeds or nuts are used to make tea seed oil[3], which is used for lighting, lubrication, cooking and cosmetic purposes. Tea oil has a higher calorific content than any other edible oil available naturally in Japan[2].

It is known well by appearing in the lyrics of nursery rhyme called "Takibi".

References

  1. ^ Winter Flowers Camellia sasanqua
  2. ^ a b c Botanic Gardens Trust—Camellias
  3. ^ Camellia sasanqua in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Camellia sasanqua —   Camellia sasanqua …   Wikipedia Español

  • Camellia sasanqua — Camellia d automne Camelli …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Camellia sasanqua — kvapioji kamelija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Arbatmedinių šeimos dekoratyvinis augalas (Camellia sasanqua), paplitęs rytų Azijoje. Iš jo gaunami kietieji aliejai. atitikmenys: lot. Camellia sasanqua angl. sasanqua camellia šaltinis… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • CAMELLIA SASANQUA THUNB. - КАМЕЛИЯ МАСЛИЧНАЯ, ЕВГЕНОЛЬНАЯ — см. 640. Кустарник. Дерево. С. sasanqua Thunb. К. масличная, евгенольная Fl. Jap. (1784) 273, f. 30 Кибальчич (1954). Дер. и куст. IV (1958) 765. Глоба Михайленко (I960). Атлас лек. раст. (1962) 214. S y n. Thea oleosa Leur.; Th. sasankwa… …   Справочник растений

  • Camellia sasanqua — ID 13513 Symbol Key CASA26 Common Name Sasanqua camellia Family Theaceae Category Dicot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Introduced to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution FL, GA, NC, SC Growth Habit Tree, Shrub …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Camellia sasanqua Thunb. — Symbol CASA26 Common Name Sasanqua camellia Botanical Family Theaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Camellia — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Camellia (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Camellia — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda ? Camellia Camellia sinensis Clasificación científica …   Wikipedia Español

  • Camellia — Taxobox name = Camellia bush image width = 280px image caption = Camellia japonica regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Ericales familia = Theaceae genus = Camellia genus authority = L. subdivision ranks =… …   Wikipedia

  • Camellia —  Pour l’article homophone, voir K Mélia. Pour les articles homonymes, voir Camellia (homonymie) …   Wikipédia en Français

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