What is Camellia?
{{automatic taxobox |image = Camellia sasanqua1JAM343.jpg |image_caption = ''[[Camellia sasanqua]]'' is used as a garden plant, its leaves are used for tea, and its seeds for oil |taxon = Camellia |authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = About 100–250, see [[#Selected species|text]] |synonyms = ''Thea'' }} [[File:Camellia japonica MHNT.BOT.2010.13.3.jpg|thumb|''Camellia japonica'']] '''''Camellia''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Theaceae]], native to eastern and southern [[Asia]] from the [[Himalaya]] east to [[Japan]] and [[Indonesia]]. Scientists are still discussing how many species there are. The number of species varies between 100 and 250. [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] named the genus inhonour of Fr. [[Georg Joseph Kamel]], a [[Jesuit]] botanist. amel brought C. japonica from [[Manila]] to [[Spain]]. [[File:Teestrauch Detail.jpg|left|thumb|Leaves of ''Camellia sinensis'']] They are [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s from 2–20 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternately arranged, simple, thick, serrated, usually glossy, and 3–17 cm long. The [[flower]]s are large and conspicuous, 1–12 cm diameter, with (in natural conditions) 5–9 petals; colour varies from white to pink and red, and yellow in a few species. The [[fruit]] is a dry capsule subdivided into 1–5 compartments, each containing 1–8 [[seed]]s. The genus is generally adapted to [[acid]]ic [[soil]]s, and does not grow well on [[chalk]] or other [[calcium]]-rich soils. Most species also have a high [[rain]]fall requirement and will not tolerate [[drought]]. ''Camellia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of a number of [[butterfly]] species. == Cultivation and uses == ''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' is very important commercially since [[tea]] is made from its leaves. [[Tea oil]] is a sweet seasoning and cooking oil made by pressing the seeds of ''Camellia sinensis'' or ''[[Camellia oleifera]]''. Many other camellias are grown as ornamental plant