Theaceae
Camellia

Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze

First published in Um die Erde: 500 (1881)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is E. Himalaya to S. China and N. Indo-China, Hainan. It is a shrub or tree and grows primarily in the subtropical biome. It is used as a medicine and for food.

Distribution

Native to:

Assam, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam

Introduced into:

Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Borneo, Cambodia, China North-Central, Ethiopia, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Japan, Korea, Mauritius, Nepal, Réunion, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Trinidad-Tobago, Türkey

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms

Accepted Infraspecifics

Classification

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PAFTOL

Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.
  • Barooah, C. & Ahmed, I. (2014). Plant diversity of Assam. A checklist of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms: 1-599. Assam science technology and environment council, India.
  • Bosser, J., Cadet, T., Julien, H.R. & Marais, W. (eds.) (1980). Flore des Mascareignes 31-50: 1. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Choudhary, R.K., Srivastava, R.C., Das, A.K. & Lee, J. (2012). Floristic diversity assessment and vegetation analysis of Upper Siang district of eastern Himalaya in North East India. Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 42: 222-246.
  • Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1967). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 2: 1-581. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
  • Dy Phon, P. (2000). Dictionnaire des plantes utilisées au Cambodge: 1-915. Chez l'auteur, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Figueiredo, E., Paiva, J., Stévart, T., Oliveira, F. & Smith, G.F. (2011). Annotated catalogue of the flowering plants of São Tomé and Príncipe. Bothalia, A Journal of Botanical Research 41: 41-82.
  • Gosline, G., Bidault, E., van der Burgt, X., Cahen, D., Challen, G., Condé, N., Couch, C., Couvreur, T.L.P., Dagallier, L.M.J., Darbyshire, I., Dawson, S., Doré, T.S., Goyder, D., Grall, A., Haba, P., Haba, P., Harris, D., Hind, D.J.N., Jongkind, & al. (2023). A Taxonomically-verified and Vouchered Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the Republic of Guinea. Nature, scientific data 10, Article number: 327: [1]-[12].
  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
  • Grierson, A.J.C. & Long, D.G. (1984). Flora of Bhutan 1(2): 189-462. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Iwatsuki, K., Boufford, D.E. & Ohba, H. (eds.) (2006). Flora of Japan IIa: 1-550. Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo.
  • Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.
  • Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh lục các loài thực vật Việt Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà Nội : Nhà xuất bản Nông nghiệp.
  • Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (2020). Flowering Plants of India an Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons) 1: 1-970. Botanical Survey of India.
  • Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
  • Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Nguyễn, H.H. (2017). Thực Vật Chí Việt Nam. Flora of Vietnam 19: 1-357. Nhà xuất bản khoa học và kỹ thuật, Hà Nội.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 12: 1-534. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).
  • Zuloaga, F.O., Belgrano, M.J. & Zanotti, C.A. (eds.) (2021). Flora Argentina. Flora vascular de la República Argentina 19(2): 1-466. INTA, IMBIV & IBODA.

Kew Species Profiles

  • Cicuzza, D. & Kokotos, S. (2006). The invasive potential of tea: naturalisation and spread of Camellia sinensis in natural and logged forests of the Amani Nature Reserve.
  • Hill R. M., Craig J. P., Chaney M. D., Tennyson L. M. & McCulley L. B. (1977). Utilization of over-the-counter drugs during pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol 20: 38194.
  • Schoorel, A. F. & van der Vossen, H. A. M. (2000). Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. In: van der Vossen, H.A.M. & Wessel, M. (eds), Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 16. Stimulants. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, the Netherlands. Pp. 55-63.
  • Van Wyk, B. (2005). Food Plants of the World. Timber Press, Oregon, USA.

Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

  • Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.
  • Barooah, C. & Ahmed, I. (2014). Plant diversity of Assam. A checklist of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms: 1-599. Assam science technology and environment council, India.
  • Bosser, J., Cadet, T., Julien, H.R. & Marais, W. (eds.) (1980). Flore des Mascareignes 31-50: 1. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Choudhary, R.K., Srivastava, R.C., Das, A.K. & Lee, J. (2012). Floristic diversity assessment and vegetation analysis of Upper Siang district of eastern Himalaya in North East India. Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 42: 222-246.
  • Dassanayake (ed.) (1996). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon 10: 1-426. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT. LTD., New Delhi, Calcutta.
  • Davis, P.H. (ed.) (1967). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 2: 1-581. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
  • Dy Phon, P. (2000). Dictionnaire des plantes utilisées au Cambodge: 1-915. Chez l'auteur, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Edwards, S., Tadesse, M. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1995). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(2): 1-456. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Figueiredo, E., Paiva, J., Stévart, T., Oliveira, F. & Smith, G.F. (2011). Annotated catalogue of the flowering plants of São Tomé and Príncipe. Bothalia, A Journal of Botanical Research 41: 41-82.
  • Gosline, G., Bidault, E., van der Burgt, X., Cahen, D., Challen, G., Condé, N., Couch, C., Couvreur, T.L.P., Dagallier, L.M.J., Darbyshire, I., Dawson, S., Doré, T.S., Goyder, D., Grall, A., Haba, P., Haba, P., Harris, D., Hind, D.J.N., Jongkind, & al. (2023). A Taxonomically-verified and Vouchered Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the Republic of Guinea. Nature, scientific data 10, Article number: 327: [1]-[12].
  • Hara, H., Stearn, W.T. & Williams, H.J. (1979). An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal 2: 1-220. Trustees of British Museum, London.
  • Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.
  • Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh lục các loài thực vật Việt Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà Nội : Nhà xuất bản Nông nghiệp.
  • Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 12: 1-534. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).
  • Zuloaga, F.O., Belgrano, M.J. & Zanotti, C.A. (eds.) (2021). Flora Argentina. Flora vascular de la República Argentina 19(2): 1-466. INTA, IMBIV & IBODA.

Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

  • Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R., & Celis, M. (eds.). (2020). Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia. v1.1. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Dataset/Checklist. https://doi.org/10.15472/7avdhn
  • Burkill HM. (1995). The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vols. 1-3. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vols 1-3.
  • Cámara-Leret, R., & Dennehy, Z. (2019). Information gaps in indigenous and local knowledge for science-policy assessments. Nature Sustainability 2:736-741.
  • Dempewolf, H., Eastwood, R. J., Guarino, L., Khoury, C. K., Müller, J. V. & Toll, J. (2014). Adapting agriculture to climate change: a global initiative to collect, conserve, and use crop wild relatives. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 38, 369-377.
  • Diazgranados et al. (2021). Catalogue of plants of Colombia. Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia project. In prep.
  • Diazgranados, M., Allkin, B., Black N., Cámara-Leret, R., Canteiro C., Carretero J., Eastwood R., Hargreaves S., Hudson A., Milliken W., Nesbitt, M., Ondo, I., Patmore, K., Pironon, S., Turner, R., Ulian, T. (2020). World Checklist of Useful Plant Species. Produced by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity.
  • FPI (2021). Food Plants International. https://fms.cmsvr.com/fmi/webd/Food_Plants_World?homeurl=https://foodplantsinternational.com/plants/
  • GBIF.org (2021). GBIF species matching tool. https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup
  • GRIN (2021). Germplasm Resources Information Network from the United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.ars-grin.gov/
  • IUCN (2021). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-2. https://www.iucnredlist.org.
  • Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humbodlt (2014). Plantas alimenticias y medicinales nativas de Colombia. 2567 registros, aportados por: Castellanos, C. (Contacto del recurso), Valderrama, N. (Creador del recurso, Autor), Bernal, Y. (Autor), García, N. (Autor). http://i2d.humboldt.org.co/ceiba/resource.do?r=ls_colombia_magnoliophyta_2014
  • Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt. (2014). Plantas alimenticias y medicinales nativas de Colombia. 2567 registros, aportados por: Castellanos, C. (Contacto del recurso), Valderrama, N. (Creador del recurso, Autor), Bernal, Y. (Autor), García, N. (Autor). http://i2d.humboldt.org.co/ceiba/resource.do?r=ls_colombia_magnoliophyta_2014
  • Jansen, P., Lemmens, R., Oyen, L., Siemonsma, J., Stavast, F. & Van Valkenburg, J. (1991) Plant Resources of South-East Asia. Basic list of species and commodity grouping. Final version. Pudoc, Wageningen.
  • Medicinal Plant Names Services (MPNS) v.10 (2021); http://mpns.kew.org/
  • PROTA (2021). Plants Resources of Tropical Africa. https://prota4u.org/database/
  • RBG, Kew (2021). Kew Economic Botany Collection. https://ecbot.science.kew.org/
  • Willis, K.J. (ed.) (2017). State of the World’s Plants 2017. Report. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Cadet, T. [5506] Reunion K005467395 No
Miller, J. [3767] Madagascar K005467391 No
[Morero] [3] India K000618856 Yes
Hasimoto, H. [468] Japan K000731809 No
Reeves, J. [s.n.] China K000618861 Yes
Reeves, J. [s.n.] China K000618860 Yes
Balslev, H.; Sutjaritjai, N.; Chamchumroon, V.; Eiserhardt, W.; Eiserhardt, S.; Sumanon, P.; Panyadee, P.; Kladwong, P.; Pakinamhang, B. [10058] Thailand K001625230 Yes
Henry, A. [1917] China K005466443 Yes
Henry, A. [2978] China K005466444 Yes
Oldham, R. [415] Japan K000618873 Yes
[illegible] [s.n.] Burma K000618859 Yes
Croat, T.B. [32261] Madagascar K005467393 No
Timberlake, J. [5294] Mozambique K000614024 Yes
Dutta, A.C. [3539] India K005467014 No
Hu zhong-hui [242] China K000731804 No
s.coll. [s.n.] K005467006 No
s.coll. [s.n.] K005467004 No
Keenan, J.; Tun Aung, U.; Tha Hla, U. [3273] Burma K005467017 No
Hohenacker, R.F. [483] India K005467018 No
Procter [4528] Seychelles K005467389 No
Canaby [11] Comoros K005467387 No
Barua, P.K. [3537] India K005467012 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] Mauritius K005467398 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467377 No
Bruce, C. [3] India K000618857 Yes
Bruce, C. [3] India K000618858 Yes
Oldham, R. [415] Japan K000618871 Yes
Sauliere, A. (Rev.) [333] India K005466998 No
Suzana, S.; Baraham, B.; Dg Ku Rozianah, M. [SAN 158192] Malaysia K001583001 Yes
Suzana, S.; Jemson, J.; Baraham, B.; Ubaldus, M.; Dg Ku Rozianah, M.; Ivy, M. [SAN 157727] Malaysia K001577926 Yes
s.coll. [1675A] K005467005 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467378 No
Kisena [598] Tanzania K005467381 No
Lorence, D.; Edgerley, L.F. [2702] Mauritius K005467388 No
s.coll. [s.n.] India K005466996 No
Barua, P.K. [3535] India K005467008 No
Sauliere, A. (Rev.) [615] India K005466997 No
Simon [s.n.] India K005467000 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467376 No
Hancock, W. [53] China K000894813 Yes
Hu, S.Y.; Kong, Y.C. [016] China K000894803 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K005466999 No
Telfair [s.n.] Mauritius K005467401 No
Miller, J.; Miller, L.A. [3814] Madagascar K005467390 No
Xiao Bai-Zhong [4214] China K000731805 No
Xiao Bai-Zhong [4672] China K000731806 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467374 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467379 No
[A.C. Drtta] [3536] India K005467009 No
Mogg, A.O.D. [13870] K005467403 No
Brionnaud, S.; Yahaya, I.; Boulongne, C. [8] Comoros K005467385 No
Cadet, T. [4370] Reunion K005467397 No
Oldham, R. [728] Japan K000618874 Yes
Dorr, L.J. [3114] Madagascar K005467394 No
Gamble, J.S. [17849] India K000618855 Yes
Griffith [s.n.] K005467003 No
s.coll. [426] K005467402 No
[A.C. Dutta] [3541] India K005467015 No
Oldham, R. [s.n.] Japan K000618870 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] Zimbabwe K005467384 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Mauritius K005467399 No
Oldham, R. [100] Japan K000618875 Yes
[A.C. Dutta] [3540] India K005467011 No
Oldham, R. [s.n.] Japan K000618872 Yes
Hooker; Telfair [s.n.] Mauritius K005467400 No
Brionnaud, S.; Yahaya, I.; Boulongne, C. [8] Comoros K005467386 No
Li Zhen-yu [891829] China K000731808 No
Oldham, R. [415] Japan K000618869 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K005467007 No
[Mr Foulkes] [s.n.] India K005467016 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467375 No
Barna, P.K. [3535] India K005467010 No
Timberlake, J. [5870] Mozambique K005467383 No
Gentry, A. [11257] Madagascar K005467392 No
s.coll. [s.n.] K005467002 No
Friedmann, F. [2903] Reunion K005467396 No
s.coll. [s.n.] K005467001 No
Hu, S.Y. [6180] Hong Kong K000894812 Yes
Barna, P.K. [3538] India K005467013 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Tanzania K005467380 No
V.M.G. [36] China Thea sinensis K005466483 Yes
Ching, R.C. [2907] China Thea sinensis K000894809 Yes
Forrest, G. [26029] China Thea sinensis K000894808 Yes
Law, Y.W. [1141] China Thea sinensis K000894810 Yes
Forrest, G. [25350] China Thea sinensis K000894807 Yes
Price, W.R. [1224] China Camellia thea K000894806 Yes
Sampson, T. [s.n.] China Camellia thea K000894811 Yes
Henry, A. [10377] China Camellia thea K000894805 Yes
Henry, A. [9722] China Camellia thea K000894804 Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Living Collection Database

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Kew Species Profiles

    • Kew Species Profiles
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Neotropikey

    • Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0