Camellia amplexicaulis

Camellia amplexicaulis is a species of flowering tree in the tea family. Originally native to Vietnam, it has been considered extinct in the wild since 2018.[1] It is one of two species of trees in the tea family that only exists in cultivation, the other being Franklinia.[3] It is known in Vietnam as Hải đường.[4]

Camellia amplexicaulis
Flower and leaves
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Camellia
Species:
C. amplexicaulis
Binomial name
Camellia amplexicaulis
(Pit.) Cohen-Stuart
Synonyms[2]
  • Thea amplexicaulis Pit.

The species was first collected in 1910 in the Tam Đảo region of northern Vietnam. Its habitat was likely tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests. Although extinct in the wild, it is commonly cultivated in Vietnam and flowers are utilized during the Tết festival.[5]

Description

C. amplexicaulis is highly variable in cultivation. The species is a small tree that may grow between 2 and 4 meters tall. Leaves are evergreen, glossy, and clasp the stem. Flowers are pink and emerge in late autumn to early spring. Fruit is round and shiny.[5]

Four species were split from Camellia amplexicaulis, including the white-flowered Camellia lucii in 2015. Camellia ingens, Camellia pyriparva and Camellia scabrosa were described in 2017.[5]

References
  1. Rivers, M.C. (2018). "Camellia amplexicaulis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T191323A1975870. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T191323A1975870.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Camellia amplexicaulis". www.ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. Barstow, Megan (4 January 2018). "Two of the world's tea species extinct in the wild according to new report". Global Trees. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. "Camellia amplexicaulis". www.botanyvn.com. Vietnam Plant Data Center (BVNGroup). Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. "Plant of the Month". The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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