Plant of

the Month June 2021

Distribution Information Name: petelotii (Merr.) Sealy Native of Guangxi Province in southern China and in (syn. nitidissima) is a member of the tea Synonym: C.W.Chi northern Vietnam. family, that includes Camellia sinensis, the species from which black and green tea is produced. In 2017, the Common Name: Golden Camellia Native Habitat International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Moist subtropical forests below 500 m altitude. Prefers Family: Theacae and the Global Trees Campaign (GTC) published a report shade as it grows in the forest understorey. Genus: For Moravian Jesuit botanist on the conservation status of Theaceae. They assessed 254 George Joseph Kamel (1661 - 1706) Description species and concluded that 85 species were threatened with Shrub up to 5 m tall with dark green, leathery leaves that are Species epithet: For French entemologist and extinction. This species is considered vulnerable, as wild glossy above and finely serrated on the margin. New growth populations are threatened by over collection and habitat loss. botanist Alfred Pételot (1885- is reddish purple. 1940). This is one of more than 30 yellow-flowered Camellia Flowers and Fruit species. It was originally described in 1949 but was Flowers are cup-shaped (to 5 cm diameter), waxy and held rediscovered in China close to the border with Vietnam within the foliage. Colour varies between butter yellow and in the 1960s. It was brought into cultivation in the 1970s, golden, with many golden stamens and elongated yellow causing great excitement amongst Camellia growers and styles. Flowering in winter to spring is followed by thick- breeders in western countries. walled, smooth, green fruits that look like a small apple. Leaves and flowers are used in China to make tea. It is also Location in Garden used in traditional medicine for treating a wide range of Camellia Garden (bed 4b) near Rathborne Lodge . ailments including; dysentry, sore throat, hypertension and Use our new Garden Explorer finder at: even cancer prevention. A large number of scientific studies https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Visit/Garden-Explorer in recent years have been undertaken to investigate plant extracts and their antioxidant and anti-cancer activity and cytotoxicity.

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