Camellia petelotii is a species of plant in the family Theaceae.[2] It is found in China (endemic in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China) and Vietnam. It is known as the golden camellia for its distinctive yellow blossoms. Synonyms include C. chrysantha and Camellia nitidissima. The golden camellia originated 170 million years ago, and is a first-class nationally protected plant in China.[3] The golden camellia is extremely demanding on the growth environment, its genes are extremely difficult to replicate, and, once transplanted, it is known to die or genetically mutate.[3] It is also threatened by habitat loss. Therefore, in 1986, the Golden Camellia National Nature Reserve was built in Fangcheng, Guangxi, with a total area of 9195.1 hectares.[4]
| Camellia petelotii | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Theaceae |
| Genus: | Camellia |
| Species: | C. petelotii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Camellia petelotii (Merr.) Sealy
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
In southern China and Vietnam where the golden camellia originates, it has been used to make tea, and in addition has been propagated as a garden plant for its waxy yellow flowers, which are notably unusual for a member of the Camellia genus. The plant is endangered in the wild, but is widely favored in gardens.
Description
editCamellia petelotii is a shrub or small tree growing up to 5 meters in height.[5]
Uses
editWith Golden Camellias, Chinese experts have been conducting experiments to create new varieties of the flower. Experts have found a few and named them, "Nayue Hongyan", "Liaoyan Beauty", "Xinhuang" and other names, which have contributed to the new tea market.[6] According to the research and experiments of The Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (China)-Guangxi Branch and some other Chinese medicine research institutions in Guangxi, Golden camellia tea has the functions of preventing cancer, inhibiting tumor growth, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood lipids, lowering cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis, delaying aging and other health effects as improve the body's immune.[3]
Gallery
edit
References
edit- ^ Orel, G.; Rivers, M.C. (2018). "Camellia petelotii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T191436A1981489. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T191436A1981489.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "POWO: Camellia petelotii (Merr.) Sealy (retrieved 24 March 2021)". Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "廣西特色食品—金花茶介紹" (in Chinese). 中華民國對外貿易發展協會. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "广西防城金花茶自然保护区简介" (in Chinese). 广西壮族自治区生态环境厅. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ "Camellia petelotii (Merrill) Sealy, Kew Bull". Flora of China. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Tang, J.; Zou, R.; Yang, Y.; Jiang, Y.; Wang, F.; Chai, S.; Wei, X. "Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Endemic Golden Camellias Collected from China". Web of Science. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
Further reading
edit- Sunyatsenia 7: 19 1948.
- The Plant List
- International Camellia Society
- Global Trees Campaign
External links
edit
Media related to Camellia petelotii at Wikimedia Commons
 | This Theaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |