Camellia sinensis

"Tea plant" redirects here. For the unrelated evergreen plant, see ti plant.

Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis foliage
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Theaceae
Genus:	Camellia
Species:	C. sinensis
Binomial name
Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze
Native range of Camellia sinensis
Synonyms [2]
Camellia thea Link Thea sinensis L.

Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree in the flowering plant family Theaceae. Its leaves, leaf buds, and stems are used to produce tea. Common names include tea plant, tea shrub, and tea tree (unrelated to Melaleuca alternifolia , the source of tea tree oil, or the genus Leptospermum commonly called tea tree).

White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, dark tea (which includes pu-erh tea) and black tea are all made from two of the five varieties which form the main crops now grown, C. sinensis var. sinensis and C. s. var. assamica, but are processed differently to attain varying levels of oxidation with black tea being the most oxidized and white being the least. ^[3] Kukicha (twig tea) is also made from C. sinensis, but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves.

Names

The name sinensis is a compound meaning "from China" in Botanical Latin. The two parts are sin from Latin meaning China and ensis the suffix meaning place of origin. ^[4]

The generic name Camellia is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Kamel, SJ (1661–1706), a Moravian-born Jesuit lay brother, pharmacist, and missionary to the Philippines. ^[5]

Camellia sinensis is widely known by the common name tea tree, a name is use since 1760. However, it is also used to refer to shrubs or trees of the myrtle family from Australia and New Zealand, most frequently species in Leptospermum or Melaleuca the first usage dating to 1790. ^[6] Tea trees are also variously called tea-bushes, tea-shrubs, and tea-plants. ^{[7] [8]}

Description

Camellia sinensis is a woody shrub or tree that is typically 1 to 5 m (3.3 to 16.4 ft) tall, ^[9] but can be as tall as 15 m (49 ft). ^[10] It is usually trimmed to a height of about 1 m (3.3 ft) with a flat top when in commercial tea plantations. ^[11] Young branches are yellow with a gray cast to them while new twigs are red-purple with white hairs. ^[9] In older trees the trunk reaches as much as 40 cm in diameter. ^[12]

In seedlings the taproot is dominant, but in mature plants the distribution of roots depends upon individual plant characteristics and growing conditions. In areas with shallow soils or high water tables tea bushes will have a shallow, fibrous root system while in areas with deep soils root have been found at depths of 5.5 m. ^[13] Tea bushes reach peak productivity at ages of 30 to 50 years, but can remain productive for over a century. ^[14]

C. sinensis plant, with cross-section of the flower (lower left) and seeds (lower right)

The leaves are an attractive green and tend to be smaller on cultivated plants than wild ones, ranging in size from 4 to 22 cm (1.5 to 8.5 in) and a width of 2 to 7.7 cm (0.8 to 3.0 in). ^[15] Their shape is elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or oblong, and they have a leathery texture. The upper surface is shining dark green and hairless while the underside is pale green and can be hairless or pubescent, covered in plant hairs. The center vein is raised above the surface of the leaf on both sides as are the smaller seven to nine veins to each side. The netlike veins between are also visible. The leaf tip has a wide angle and the edges are serrate to serrulate, having asymmetrical teeth that point forwards to very fine serrations. ^[9]

Flower of tea plant

Pollen grains of C. sinensis

The flowers are white, 2.5 to 3.5 cm (1 to 1.5 in) across with six to eight petals. They bud in the leaf axils and can be solitary or have up to three in a cluster. On the back of the flower there will be five sepals 3–5 mm long. The center of the flower is filled with numerous hairless stamens 8–13 mm long. ^[9]

C. sinensis fruit and seeds

The fruit is a capsule with globe shape, usually flattened at the ends and measuring 1–1.5 cm top to bottom and 1.5-3 cm in diameter. ^[9]

The seeds of C. sinensis and C. oleifera can be pressed to yield tea oil, a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil that should not be confused with tea tree oil, an essential oil that is used for medical and cosmetic purposes, and originates from the leaves of a different plant.

In 2017, Chinese scientists sequenced the genome of C. s. var. assamica. ^[16] It contains about three billion base pairs, which was larger than most plants previously sequenced. ^[17]

Taxonomy

Linnaeus did not consider this plant a Camellia but placed it in a separate genus Thea. ^[18] Then in 1818, Robert Sweet merged the two genera, selecting Camellia for the merged genus, and shifted all the former Thea species to that genus. ^[19]

Five varieties of Camellia sinensis are accepted: ^[2]

Image	Name	Description	Distribution
	C. sinensis var. sinensis [20]	Style fused apically 3-lobed. Widely grown for tea.	China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan [21]
	C. sinensis var. assamica(J.W.Masters) Kitamura [22]	Lower surface of leaves are villous along midvein. Widely grown for tea.	Bhutan, China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan), Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam [21]
	C. sinensis var. pubilimbaHung T. Chang [23]	Sepals are white and pubescent.	China (W. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, SE. Yunnan) [21]
	C. sinensis var. dehungensis(Hung T. Chang & B.H.Chen) T.L.Ming [24]	Lower surface of leaf is appressed pubescent.	China (S. Yunnan) [21]
	C. sinensis var. madoensisT. V. Nguyen, V. D. Luong & N. T. Le [25]	Style is free half to the base.	Vietnam (Phu Yen) [26]

Camellia sinensis has 82 synonyms of the species or of four of its five varieties. This includes 45 species names. ^{[2] [22] [24] [23] [20]}

Table of Synonyms

Name	Year	Rank	Synonym of:	Notes
Camellia angustifoliaHung T.Chang	1981	species	var. pubilimba	= het.
Camellia arborescensHung T.Chang, F.L.Yu & P.S.Wang	1983	species	var. sinensis	= het.
Camellia assamica(Royle ex Hook.) C.D.Darl & Jan.Ammal	1945	species	var. assamica	≡ hom.
Camellia assamica var. kuchaHung T.Chang, H.S.Wang & B.H.Chen	1983	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia assamica subsp. lasiocalyx(G.Watt) W.Wight	1962	subspecies	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia assamica var. polyneura(Hung T.Chang, Y.J.Tan & P.S.Wang) Hung T.Chang	1998	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia bohea(L.) Sweet	1818	species	var. viridis	= het.
Camellia dehungensisHung T.Chang, H.S.Wang & B.H.Chen	1983	species	var. dehungensis	≡ hom.
Camellia dehungensisHung T.Chang & B.H.Chen	1984	species	var. dehungensis	= het., nom. illeg.
Camellia dishiensisF.C.Zhang, X.Y.Chen & G.B.Chen	1990	species	var. pubilimba	= het.
Camellia formosensis(Masam. & S.Suzuki) M.H.Su, C.F.Hsieh & C.H.Tsou	2009	species	var. viridis	= het.
Camellia kucha(Hung T.Chang, H.S.Wang & B.H.Chen) Hung T.Chang	2008	species	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia longlingensisF.C.Zhang, G.B.Chen & M.D.Tang	1990	species	var. viridis	= het.
Camellia manglaensisHung T.Chang, Y.J.Tan & P.S.Wang	1983	species	var. dehungensis	= het.
Camellia multisepalaHung T.Chang, Y.J.Tan & P.S.Wang	1983	species	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia oleosa(Lour.) Rehder	1937	species	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Camellia parvisepalaHung T.Chang	1981	species	var. pubilimba	= het.
Camellia parvisepaloidesHung T.Chang, H.S.Wang & B.H.Chen	1983	species	var. dehungensis	= het.
Camellia polyneuraHung T.Chang, Y.J.Tan & P.S.Wang	1983	species	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia scottianaChoisy	1855	species	var. assamica	= het., not validly publ.
Camellia sinensis var. dulcamaraQ.U.Le & D.L.Nguyen	2020	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia sinensis f. formosensis(Masam. & S.Suzuki) Kitam.	1950	form	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Camellia sinensis var. kuchaHung T.Chang & S.S.Wang	1984	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia sinensis var. lasiocalyx(G.Watt) A.P.Das & C.Ghosh	2016	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia sinensis f. macrophylla(C.Morren) Kitam.	1950	form	var. virescens	= het.
Camellia sinensis f. parvifolia(Miq.) Sealy	1958	form	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Camellia sinensis f. rosea(Makino) Kitam.	1950	form	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Camellia sinensis f. ticinensis(Pollacci & Gallotti) Ardenghi	2020	form	var. virescens	= het., cited basionym not validly publ.
Camellia sinensis var. waldenae(S.Y.Hu) Hung T.Chang	1981	variety	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Camellia tenuistipaOrel, Curry & Luu	2015	species	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia theaLink	1822	species	C. sinensis	≡ hom., nom. superfl.
Camellia thea var. assamica(Royle ex Hook.) Boerl.	1901	variety	var. assamica	≡ hom.
Camellia thea var. bohea(L.) G.Watt	1907	variety	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Camellia thea var. lasiocalyxG.Watt	1907	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia thea var. stricta(Hayne) G.Watt	1907	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Camellia thea f. ticinensisPollacci & Gallotti	1940	form	var. virescens	= het., nom. nud.
Camellia thea var. viridis(L.) G.Watt	1907	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Camellia theiferaGriff.	1854	species	var. assamica	= het.
Camellia theifera var. assamica(Royle ex Hook.) Greshoff	1893	variety	var. assamica	≡ hom.
Camellia theifera var. macrophylla(C.Morren) Matsum.	1883	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Camellia viridisSweet	1818	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Camellia waldenaeS.Y.Hu	1977	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea assamicaRoyle ex Hook.	1847	species	var. assamica	≡ hom.
Thea boheaL.	1762	species	var. virescens	= het.
Thea bohea var. laxaAiton	1789	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Thea bohea var. strictaAiton	1789	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Thea cantoniensisLour.	1790	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea chinensisSims	1807	species	var. virescens	≡ hom., orth. var.
Thea cochinchinensisLour.	1790	species	var. assamica	= het.
Thea formosensisMasam. & S.Suzuki	1937	species	var. virescens	= het.
Thea grandifoliaSalisb.	1796	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea latifoliaLodd. ex Sweet	1839	species	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Thea laxaStaunton	1798	species	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Thea longifoliaNois. ex Steud.	1821	species	var. viridis	= het., not validly publ.
Thea macrophylla(C.Morren) Makino	1918	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea oleariaLour. ex Gomes Mach.	1868	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea oleosaLour.	1790	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea parvifoliaSalisb.	1796	species	var. virescens	= het.
Thea sasanqua var. oleosa(Lour.) Pierre	1887	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Thea sinensisL.	1753	species	C. sinensis	≡ hom.
Thea sinensis var. assamica(Royle ex Hook.) Pierre	1887	variety	var. assamica	≡ hom., nom. illeg.
Thea sinensis var. assamicaGuilf.	1883	variety	var. assamica	= het.
Thea sinensis var. bohea(L.) K.Koch	1853	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Thea sinensis var. cantoniensis(Lour.) Pierre	1887	variety	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Thea sinensis var. diffusaC.Morren	1835	variety	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Thea sinensis var. macrophyllaC.Morren	1835	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Thea sinensis var. parvifoliaMiq.	1867	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Thea sinensis var. pubescensPierre	1887	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Thea sinensis var. roseaMakino	1905	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Thea sinensis var. rugosaC.Morren	1835	variety	var. viridis	= het.
Thea sinensis var. strictaC.Morren	1835	variety	D. viridis	≡ hom.
Thea sinensis var. viridisPierre	1887	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Thea strictaHayne	1821	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea viridisL.	1762	species	var. viridis	= het.
Thea viridis var. assamica(Royle ex Hook.) Choisy	1855	variety	var. assamica	≡ hom.
Thea viridis var. bohea(L.) Vent.	1799	variety	var. virescens	= het.
Thea viridis variegataJ.Dix	1861		var. viridis	= het.
Thea yersiniiA.Chev. ex Gagnep.	1943	species	var. assamica	= het., without a Latin descr.
Theaphylla anamensisRaf.	1838	species	var. viridis	= het.
Theaphylla cantoniensis(Lour.) Raf.	1838	species	var. viridis	= het.
Theaphylla laxa(Aiton) Raf.	1838	species	var. viridis	= het.
Theaphylla viridis(Sweet) Raf.	1838	species	var. virescens	≡ hom.
Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym  ; = heterotypic synonym

The Cambodia type tea ("C. assamica subsp. lasiocalyx") was originally considered a type of Assam tea. However, later genetic work showed that it is a hybrid between Chinese small leaf tea and Assam tea. ^[27]

Tea plants are native to East Asia, and probably originated in the borderlands of north Burma and southwestern China. ^[28]

• Chinese (small leaf) tea [C. sinensis var. sinensis]
• Chinese Western Yunnan Assam (large leaf) tea [C. sinensis var. assamica]
• Indian Assam (large leaf) tea [C. sinensis var. assamica]
• Chinese Southern Yunnan Assam (large leaf) tea [C. sinensis var. assamica]

Tea seedling

Chinese (small leaf) tea may have originated in southern China possibly with hybridization of unknown wild tea relatives. However, since no wild populations of this tea are known, the precise location of its origin is speculative. ^{[29] [30]}

Given their genetic differences forming distinct clades, Chinese Assam type tea (C. s. var. assamica) may have two different parentages – one being found in southern Yunnan (Xishuangbanna, Pu'er City) and the other in western Yunnan (Lincang, Baoshan). Many types of Southern Yunnan Assam tea have been hybridized with the closely related species Camellia taliensis . Unlike Southern Yunnan Assam tea, Western Yunnan Assam tea shares many genetic similarities with Indian Assam type tea (also C. s. var. assamica). Thus, Western Yunnan Assam tea and Indian Assam tea both may have originated from the same parent plant in the area where southwestern China, Indo-Burma, and Tibet meet. However, as the Indian Assam tea shares no haplotypes with Western Yunnan Assam tea, Indian Assam tea is likely to have originated from an independent domestication. Some Indian Assam tea appears to have hybridized with the species Camellia pubicosta . ^{[29] [30]}

Assuming a generation of 12 years, Chinese small leaf tea is estimated to have diverged from Assam tea around 22,000 years ago; this divergence would correspond to the last glacial maximum, ^{[29] [30]} while Chinese Assam tea and Indian Assam tea diverged 2,800 years ago.

Chinese small leaf type tea was introduced into India in 1836 by the British and some Indian Assam type tea (e.g. Darjeeling tea) appear to be genetic hybrids of Chinese small leaf type tea, native Indian Assam, and possibly also closely related wild tea species. ^[31]

Cultivation

Main article: Tea cultivation

Camellia sinensis is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127 cm (50 in) of rainfall a year. Tea plants prefer a rich and moist growing location in full to part sun, and can be grown in hardiness zones 7–9. However, species is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as Scotland, ^[32] with the northernmost tea plantation at 59°N latitude on Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands. ^[33] Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 2,200 m (7,200 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire more flavour.

Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved Chinese variety plant (C. s. var. sinensis) and the large-leaved Assamese plant (C. s. var. assamica), used mainly for black tea. Tea trees can remain productive for many years.

Chinese teas

The Chinese plant is a small-leafed bush with multiple stems that reaches a height of some 3 m (9.8 ft). It is native to southeast China. The first tea plant variety to be discovered, recorded, and used to produce tea dates back 3,000 years ago; it yields some of the most popular teas.

C. s. var. waldenae was considered a different species, C. waldenae by SY Hu, ^[34] but it was later identified as a variety of C. sinensis. ^[35] This variety is commonly called Waldenae Camellia; it is grown on Sunset Peak and Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong, and also occurs in Guangxi province. ^[34]

Indian teas

Three main kinds of tea are produced in India:

• Assam, from C. s. var. assamica, comes from the near sea-level heavily forested northeastern section of India, the state of Assam. Tea from here is rich and full-bodied. The first tea estate in India was established in Assam in 1837. Teas are manufactured in either the orthodox process or the "crush, tear, curl" (CTC) process.
• Darjeeling, from C. s. var. sinensis, is from the cool and wet Darjeeling highland region, tucked in the foothills of the Himalayas. Tea plantations could be at altitudes as high as 2,200 m (7,200 ft). The tea is delicately flavoured, and considered to be one of the finest teas in the world. The Darjeeling plantations have three distinct harvests, termed 'flushes', and the tea produced from each flush has a unique flavour. First (spring) flush teas are light and aromatic, while the second (summer) flush produces tea with a bit more bite. The third, or autumn flush gives a tea that is lesser in quality.
• Nilgiri is from a southern region of India almost as high as Darjeeling. Grown at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 m (3,300 and 8,200 ft), Nilgiri teas are subtle and rather gentle, and are frequently blended with other, more robust teas.^{[ citation needed ]}

Japanese teas

Tea culture in Japan from as far back as the 9th century ^[36] has resulted in various types. Japanese cultivars include:

• Benifuuki ^[37]
• Fushun ^[38]
• Kanayamidori ^[37]
• Meiryoku ^[38]
• Saemidori ^[38]
• Okumidori ^[38]
• Yabukita ^[38]

Seed-bearing fruit of C. sinensis

Pests and diseases

Main article: List of tea diseases

Tea leaves are eaten by some herbivores, such as the caterpillars of the willow beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria), a geometer moth.

Health effects

Main article: Health effects of tea

Green tea has been consumed for health purposes for thousands of years and is currently promoted for various health benefits though scientific studies show mixed results, with some evidence suggesting modest effects in certain populations; the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved a specific green tea extract ointment for treating genital warts. ^[39] Black tea is rated by the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database of Natural Standard as likely effective for improving mental alertness, possibly effective for conditions like low blood pressure, heart attack risk, osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, and Parkinson's disease, possibly ineffective for various cancers and diabetes, and lacks sufficient evidence for other uses. ^[40]

Biosynthesis of caffeine

Fresh leaves contain about 4% caffeine, as well as related compounds including theobromine. ^[41] Caffeine functions as a secondary metabolite and acts as a natural pesticide: it can paralyze and kill herbivorous insects feeding on the plant. ^[42] Caffeine is a purine alkaloid and its biosynthesis occurs in young tea leaves and is regulated by several enzymes. ^{[43] [44]} The biosynthetic pathway in C. sinensis is similar to other caffeine-producing plants such as coffee or guayusa. ^[45] Analysis of the pathway was carried out by harvesting young leaves and using reverse transcription PCR to analyze the genes encoding the major enzymes involved in synthesizing caffeine. The gene TCS1 encodes caffeine synthase. Younger leaves feature high concentrations of TCS1 transcripts, allowing more caffeine to be synthesized during this time. Dephosphorylation of xanthosine-5'-monophosphate into xanthosine is the committed step for the xanthosines entering the beginning of the most common pathway. A sequence of reactions turns xanthosine (9β-D-ribofuranosylxanthine) into 7-methylxanthosine, then 7-methylxanthine, then theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine), and finally into caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine).

Biochemical pathway detailing caffeine synthesis in C. sinensis

See also

• Plants portal

• Chinese herbology
• Green tea extract
• International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
• ISO 3103, a method of brewing tea according to the ISO
• Kaempferol, a flavanoid found in tea and associated with reduced risk of heart disease
• List of tea companies
• Tasseography, a method of divination by reading tea leaves.
• Tea classics
• Tea production in Sri Lanka
• Turkish tea
• Tea production in Kenya
• Tea leaf grading
• Camellia taliensis

Primary green tea catechins

• 
  (–)-Epigallocatechin
• 
  (–)-Epigallocatechin gallate
• 
  (–)-Epicatechin gallate
• 
  (–)-Epicatechin ^[46]

References

Citations

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4. Zimdahl 1989, p. 97.
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6. OED 2025c.
7. OED 2025a.
8. OED 2025b.
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10. Chang & Bartholomew 1984, p. 24.
11. De Costa et al. 2007, p. 301.
12. Chang & Bartholomew 1984, p. 25.
13. Carr 2018, pp. 185–187.
14. Hajiboland 2017, p. 200.
15. Trehane 2007, p. 46.
16. Xia EH, Zhang HB, Sheng J, Li K, Zhang QJ, Kim C, et al. (June 2017). "The Tea Tree Genome Provides Insights into Tea Flavor and Independent Evolution of Caffeine Biosynthesis". Molecular Plant. 10 (6): 866–877. Bibcode:2017MPlan..10..866X. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.04.002 . PMID   28473262.
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24. POWO 2025c.
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28. Yamamoto, T; Kim, M; Juneja, L R (1997). Chemistry and Applications of Green Tea. CRC Press. p. 4. ISBN   978-0-8493-4006-2. For a long time, botanists have asserted the dualism of tea origin from their observations that there exist distinct differences in the morphological characteristics between Assamese varieties and Chinese varieties... Hashimoto and Shimura reported that the differences in the morphological characteristics in tea plants are not necessarily the evidence of the dualism hypothesis from the researches using the statistical cluster analysis method. In recent investigations, it has also been made clear that both varieties have the same chromosome number (n=15) and can be easily hybridised with each other. In addition, various types of intermediate hybrids or spontaneous polyploids of tea plants have been found in a wide area extending over the regions mentioned above. These facts may prove that the place of origin of Camellia sinensis is in the area including the northern part of the Burma, Yunnan, and Sichuan districts of China.
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• Fisher, John (1982). The Origins of Garden Plants . London: Constable. ISBN   978-0-09-463760-3. OCLC   9334752 . Retrieved 10 October 2025.
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• Zimdahl, Robert L. (1989). Weeds and Words : The Etymology of the Scientific Names of Weeds and Crops (First ed.). Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press. ISBN   978-0-8138-0128-5. OCLC   18191057 . Retrieved 8 October 2025.

Journals

• De Costa, W.A. Janendra M.; Mohotti, A. Janaki; Wijeratne, Madawala A. (December 2007). "Ecophysiology of tea". Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology. 19 (4): 299–332. doi:10.1590/S1677-04202007000400005 . Retrieved 8 October 2025.
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• Nguyen, Tran Vu; Van, Thi Phuong Nhu; Le, Xuan Son; Nguyen, Van Ngoc; Luong, Van Dung; Trinh, Thi Huy Tra; Nguyen, Ba Nam; Le, Ngoc Trieu (22 September 2023). "Camellia sinensis var. madoensis (sect. thea, theaceae), a New Taxon From Vietnam". Dalat University Journal of Science: 5–12. doi:10.37569/dalatuniversity.14.1.1145(2024) . Retrieved 16 March 2025.

Web sources

• Hassler, Michael (23 September 2025). "Camellia sinensis in the Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 25.09". World Plants. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
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• OED. "Tea-bush, N." . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/2134718919.(Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
• OED. "Tea-shrub, N." . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/3817747911.(Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
• OED. "Tea Tree, N." . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/9546727191.(Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
• POWO (2025). "Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
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• POWO (2025). "Camellia sinensis var. dehungensis (Hung T.Chang, H.S.Wang & B.H.Chen) T.L.Ming". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
• POWO (2025). "Camellia sinensis var. madoensis T.V.Nguyen, V.D.Luong & N.Trieu Le". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
• POWO (2025). "Camellia sinensis var. pubilimba Hung T.Chang". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
• POWO (2025). "Camellia sinensis var. sinensis". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 7 October 2025.
• Rivers, M.C.; Wheeler, L. (2018). "Camellia sinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018 e.T62037625A62037628. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T62037625A62037628.en . Retrieved 8 October 2025.

External links

• Camellia sinensis from Purdue University
• The International Camellia Society
• Plant Cultures: botany and history of the tea plant Archived 27 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
• Jac.OxfordJournals.org, The effect of a component of tea (Camellia sinensis) on methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus.
• Suns.Ars-Grin.gov, List of Chemicals in Camellia sinensis (Dr. Duke's Databases)