Theaceae
Theaceae | |
---|---|
Tea Camellia sinensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Theaceae Mirb. (1816)[1] |
Genera | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Camelliaceae[2] |
Theaceae (
Family traits
Plants in this family are characterized by simple leaves that are alternate spiral to distich, serrated, and usually glossy. Most of the genera have
Genera
Eight genera are currently accepted:[1]
- Apterosperma Hung T. Chang
- Camellia L., including Dankia Gagnep., Piquetia (Pierre) H.Hallier, Thea L., Yunnanea Hu
- Franklinia Marshall
- Gordonia Ellis, including Laplacea
- Polyspora Sweet
- Pyrenaria Blume, including Dubardella H.J.Lam, Glyptocarpa Hu, Parapyrenaria H.T.Chang, Sinopyrenaria Hu, Tutcheria Dunn
- Schima Blume
- Stewartia L., including Hartia Dunn
The fossil Pentapetalum trifasciculandricus, about 91 million years old, may belong to the Theaceae or the Pentaphylacaceae.[8]
Distribution
Members of the family are found in Southeast Asia and Malesia, tropical South America and the Southeast United States. Three genera (Franklinia, Gordonia and Stewartia) have species native to the Southeast United States, with Franklinia being endemic there, and under some interpretations, also Gordonia with the Asian species formerly included in that genus being transferred to Polyspora.[9]
Biochemistry
There is distinctive chemistry within the family Theaceae. Sometimes, single crystals of calcium oxalate are present in Theaceous plants.
Economic importance
The best known genus is Camellia, which includes the plant whose leaves are used to produce tea (Camellia sinensis). In parts of Asia, other species are used as a beverage, including C. taliensis, C. grandibractiata, C. kwangsiensis, C. gymnogyna, C. crassicolumna, C. tachangensis, C. ptilophylla, and C. irrawadiensis.[10] Several species are grown widely as ornamentals for their flowers and handsome foliage.
References
- ^ a b Theaceae Mirb. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) entry for Camelliaceae Archived 2012-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Vascular Plant Families and Genera: Theaceae Archived 1997-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Watson, L., & Dallwitz, M. J. (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants. Theaceae
- hdl:10654/18083.
- ^ a b Stevens, P.F. (2004). "Clusiaceae". In Kubitzki, K. (ed.). Flowering Plants. The families and genera of vascular plants. Springer.
- S2CID 85382072.
- ^ Stevens, P.F., "Theaceae", Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2014-09-18
- ^ Flora of China "Theaceae (draft)"
- ISBN 9780917304811.