Japanese camellia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese camellia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thea japonica
• Camellia wabiske
• Camellia rubicaulis
• Camellia expansa
• Camellia japonica var. variegata
• Camellia rosea
• Camellia myrtifolia
• Camellia woodsii
• Camellia rossii
• Camellia hexangularis
• Camellia pomponia
• Thea reticulata var. wabiske
• Camellia maeleniana
• Camellia japonica var. kurtzii
• Camellia japonica var. tamponea
• Camellia japonica f. albipetala
• Camellia japonica var. victrix
• Camellia bonnardii
• Thea nakaii
• Camellia fimbriata
• Camellia sylvestris
• Camellia incarnata
• Camellia tuckiana
• Camellia bononicana
• Camellia imbricata
• Camellia tsubakki
• Camellia japonica var. chandleri
• Camellia japonica var. conferta
• Camellia japonica var. eburnea
• Camellia japonica var. foliolosa
• Camellia japonica var. concava
• Camellia japonica var. haylockii
• Camellia japonica f. lancifolia
• Camellia japonica var. lysantha
• Camellia japonica f. leucantha
• Camellia japonica var. modesta
• Camellia japonica f. lilifolia
• Camellia japonica var. picta
• Camellia japonica var. longifolia
• Camellia japonica var. porrecta
• Camellia japonica var. pumila
• Camellia japonica var. macrocarpa
• Camellia japonica var. spofforthiae
• Camellia japonica f. macrocarpa
• Camellia japonica var. rosigena
• Camellia japonica var. nakaii
• Camellia japonica var. sporrorthiana
• Camellia japonica f. otome
• Camellia japonica var. venosa
• Camellia japonica f. parviflora
• Camellia japonica f. polypetala
• Camellia japonica var. ulantha
• Camellia hozanensis
• Camellia japonica var. woodsii
• Camellia hayaoi
• Camellia florida
• Camellia kaempferia
• Camellia japonica var. hozanensis
• Camellia japonica f. ilicifolia
• Camellia japonica var. hexapetala
• Camellia japonica f. trifida
• Camellia planipetala
• Camellia mutabilis
• Camellia nakaii
• Thea japonica var. spontanea
• Thea camellia
• Thea hozanensis
• Camellia japonica var. donckelarii
• Camellia japonica var. triumphans
• Camellia japonica var. curvatifolia
• Camellia japonica var. delicatissima
• Camellia japonica var. imbricata-alba
• Camellia japonica var. latifolia
• Camellia japonica var. minuta
• Camellia japonica var. picturata
• Camellia japonica var. resplendens
• Camellia japonica var. anemoniflora-rosea
• Camellia japonica var. punctata-major
• Camellia japonica var. leeana-superba
• Camellia japonica var. adelaideae
• Camellia imperialis
• Camellia japonica var. halleyi
• Camellia marginata
• Camellia insignis
• Camellia splendens
• Camellia welbankiana
• Camellia sexangularis
• Camellia variegata
• Camellia warratha
• Camellia coccinea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Ericales and the family Theaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Camellia, specifically as the species Camellia japonica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range spanning across several key regions of East and West-Central Africa and Asia. In East Asia, it is naturally distributed throughout Japan. Its presence in China is extensive, covering the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast regions. Furthermore, the species can be found in West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse environmental niches inhabited by Camellia japonica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Camellia japonica is characterized by its presence in specific lowland habitats, where it thrives within a highly specialized vertical distribution. This species occupies a narrow elevational niche, ranging from a minimum altitude of 2300 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 2400 m AMSL. This restricted altitudinal band suggests a dependency on the unique climatic and soil conditions found within these specific montane or highland lowland zones.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Camellia japonica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that allows it to thrive in various forest understories. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its lush foliage throughout the year and providing a consistent structural component to its habitat regardless of the season. Its classification as both a phanerophyte under different botanical frameworks underscores its robust, woody growth habit and its ability to sustain itself over many years through perennial life cycles.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Camellia japonica is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent existence without being a parasite. It is a strictly terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with an average height of approximately 10 m and the potential to reach a maximum height of 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Camellia japonica is characterized by its specialized metabolic and morphological adaptations. It utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process common in temperate woody species where carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle. Morphologically, the foliage displays consistent dimensions, with leaf width remaining stable at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 4 cm, while the leaf length reaches a maximum of 7 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic bacterial fixation to support its nutritional requirements and growth processes.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Camellia japonica is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The plant produces seeds with highly consistent physical dimensions, featuring a uniform seed length of 2.3 mm and a consistent seed volume of 1300 mm³. The seed mass exhibits slight variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.974 g to a maximum of 1.176 g, with an average seed mass of 1.075 g. The fruit produced during the reproductive cycle is classified as dry. In terms of dispersal, the species employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, utilizing a diverse range of mechanisms including anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit dryness :

dry

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2.3 mm

Seed mass max:

1.176 g

Seed mass mean:

1.075 g

Seed mass min:

0.974 g

Seed volume max:

1300 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Camellia japonica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
3. Nutrients
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Fruit

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Camellia japonica has 55 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Fatty acids, Tannins, Terpenoids, Camelliatannin H, Flavonoids.

Fatty acids

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Food chemistry: X
3. Nutrients

Tannins

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Current rheumatology reviews
3. Nutrients

Terpenoids

1. Current rheumatology reviews
2. Food chemistry: X
3. Nutrients

Camelliatannin H

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Frontiers in plant science

Triterpenes

1. International journal of molecular medicine
2. Nutrients

(+)-Catechol

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Epicatechol

1. Dr. Duke

24-methylene-dammarenol

1. Dr. Duke

Anthocyanins

1. Frontiers in plant science

Activities

Camellia japonica has 108 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Antiviral, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular medicine
3. Food chemistry: X
4. Nutrients
5. Chinese medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Food chemistry: X
2. Nutrients
3. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology

Anticancer

1. Food chemistry: X
2. Nutrients

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular medicine

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Camellia japonica has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, Gout, Reflux esophagitis, antioxidative stress, antiviral.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations