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Line 6: − A third one, also known as "java bush" is Camellia sinensis var. parvifolia or sometimes also called Camellia sinensis var. cambodiensis. This [[varietal]] is wild growing and native to southeast Asia. It reaches heights of 20 to 30 feet and is mainly used for [[Pu-Erh]] tea. It resembles the assamica variety but its leaves are smaller in length. It's considered a cross between assamica and sinensis. + − Line 22:
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Line 47: − − * [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Camellia_sinensis.html ''Camellia sinensis''] from [[Purdue University]]+ − − * Antibacterial Activity of Green Tea Extracts against Streptococcus anginosus group [http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/10017425510/en/ CI.NII.AC.jp] − *[http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=198 Suns.Ars-Grin.gov], List of Chemicals in ''Camellia sinensis'' (Dr. Duke's Databases) Line 60:
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[[File:Yabukita-close.jpg|thumb|Camellia sinensis, Yabukita cultivar]]
'''''Camellia sinensis''''' is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce the popular beverage [[tea]].
'''''Camellia sinensis''''' is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce the popular beverage [[tea]].
There are two major varieties used for tea, Chinese tea, ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'', and Assam tea, ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''assamica''.
There are two major varieties used for tea, Chinese tea, ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'', and Assam tea, ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''assamica''.
Beside this two there is also ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''pubilimba'' and ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''dehungensis''. They are also known as Mao Cha (毛茶) and used for Pu-Erh tea. It's unclear whether those two varietal are own species or just a spontaneous hybrid of assamica and sinensis. The same applies for the varietal called "java bush", ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''parvifolia'' or ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''cambodiensis''.
==Nomenclature and taxonomy==
==Nomenclature and taxonomy==
The name ''Camellia'' is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Joseph Kamelref, Society of Jesus (1661–1706), a Czech-born Jesuit lay brother, pharmacist, and missionary to the Philippines. Carl Linnaeus chose his name in 1753 for the genus to honor Kamel's contributions to botany (although Kamel did not discover or name this plant, or any ''Camellia'' and Linnaeus did not consider this plant a ''Camellia'' but a ''Thea''. The name ''sinensis'' means ''from China'' in Latin.
The name ''Camellia'' is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Joseph Kamelref, Society of Jesus (1661–1706), a Czech-born Jesuit lay brother, pharmacist, and missionary to the Philippines. Carl Linnaeus chose his name in 1753 for the genus to honor Kamel's contributions to botany (although Kamel did not discover or name this plant, or any ''Camellia'' and Linnaeus did not consider this plant a ''Camellia'' but a ''Thea''. The name ''sinensis'' means ''from China'' in Latin.
==Description==
==Description==
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
''Camellia sinensis'' is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127 cm. (50 inches) of rainfall a year. However, the clonal one is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as [[Cornwall]] on the UK mainland.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Telegraph Online | date = 17 September 2005 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2005/09/17/gtea17.xml | title = Gardening | contribution = Tea}}.</ref> Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1500 meters (5,000 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire more flavour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://teahorse.co.uk/info/where-tea-grows/ |title=Where Tea Grows |publisher=teahorse.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-06-19}}</ref>
''Camellia sinensis'' is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127 cm. (50 inches) of rainfall a year. However, the clonal one is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as Cornwall on the UK mainland. Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1500 meters (5,000 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. sinensis sinensis'') and the large-leaved Assamese plant (''C. sinensis assamica''), used mainly for black tea.
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. sinensis sinensis'') and the large-leaved Assamese plant (''C. sinensis assamica''), used mainly for black tea.
However, tea may have some negative impacts on health, such as over-consumption of [[caffeine]], and the presence of flouride and oxalates in tea.
However, tea may have some negative impacts on health, such as over-consumption of [[caffeine]], and the presence of flouride and oxalates in tea.
==External links==
==External links==
* Plant Cultures: [http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/tea_landing.html botany and history of the tea plant]
*Plant Cultures: [http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/tea_landing.html botany and history of the tea plant]
* [http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/2/211 Jac.OxfordJournals.org], The effect of a component of tea (Camellia sinensis) on methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus.
* [http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/2/211 Jac.OxfordJournals.org], The effect of a component of tea (Camellia sinensis) on methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus.
[[Category:Tea]]
[[Category:Tea]]
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[[de:Camellia sinensis]]
[[es:Camellia sinensis]]
[[es:Camellia sinensis]]
[[fr:Camellia sinensis]]