tea-oil-plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tea-oil-plant
• Tea-oil Camellia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sasanqua oleifera
• Camellia podogyna
• Camellia drupifera f. biflora
• Camellia biflora
• Thea podogyna
• Camellia banksiana
• Thea oleifera
• Thea biflora
• Theaphylla oleifera
• Theopsis banksiana
• Camellia obscura

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. Within the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Theaceae and the genus Camellia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several distinct regions within China. It can be found throughout China South-Central and the coastal areas of China Southeast. Additionally, its natural range extends to China North-Central and the tropical island of Hainan. Beyond the Chinese borders, the species also inhabits parts of the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in Assam. These diverse locations highlight the broad geographical footprint of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Camellia oleifera is defined by its specific niche within montane ecosystems, where it thrives within a distinct altitudinal band. This species is primarily adapted to high-altitude environments, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1500 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2100 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests a preference for the temperate or subtropical highland climates typically found in these mid-to-high elevation zones, which provide the necessary thermal stability and moisture regimes required for its growth and physiological development.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Camellia oleifera is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a stable presence in its ecosystem over many years. Throughout its existence, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains lush and functional across different seasons rather than shedding its leaves annually. This combination of a long-lived life cycle and continuous green canopy supports its robust growth patterns and long-term biological productivity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Camellia oleifera is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree or large shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing structures to maintain its stature. On average, the plant reaches a height of approximately 4 m, though its structural development is defined by its robust, woody composition.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Camellia oleifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under specific environmental conditions. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by elliptic leaf forms featuring distinct toothed margins, providing a specific surface architecture for gas exchange and transpiration. The plant lacks specialized defensive structures on its leaves, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines. Furthermore, from a nutritional and symbiotic standpoint, Camellia oleifera is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than establishing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Camellia oleifera is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for successful fertilization. Within this ecological framework, bees play a significant role as primary pollinators. The species exhibits a reproductive strategy where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds with a highly specific mass profile; the mean seed mass is recorded at 0.544 g, with individual seeds ranging from a minimum of 0.508 g to a maximum of 0.58 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.58 g

Seed mass mean:

0.544 g

Seed mass min:

0.508 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Camellia oleifera has 5 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, flower, fruit, root, stem.

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Flower

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Fruit

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Planta medica

Stem

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Camellia oleifera has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, catechins, (-)-medioresinol, (-)-pinoresinol, COMPOUND 15.

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Physiologia plantarum
4. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

catechins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

(-)-medioresinol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(-)-pinoresinol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

COMPOUND 15

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

COMPOUND 6

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Camellioferin A

1. Phytochemistry

Compound-4

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Fatty acids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroxyphenylacetic acid

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Activities

Camellia oleifera has 5 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Cytotoxic, Gastroprotective, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Analgesic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Cytotoxic

1. Planta medica

Gastroprotective

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Neuroprotective

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Medicinal Uses

Camellia oleifera has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant activity, antiviral, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, melanogenesis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations