Camellia reticulata

Camellia reticulata (syn. C. heterophylla)^[3] is a species of flowering plant in the tea family Theaceae, native to southwestern China, in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces.^[1]

Camellia reticulata
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Theaceae
Genus:	Camellia
Species:	C. reticulata
Binomial name
Camellia reticulata Lindl.
Synonyms[2]
Camellia albescens H.T.Chang Camellia albosericea H.T.Chang Camellia bailinshanica H.T.Chang, H.S.Liu & G.X.Xiang Camellia bambusifolia H.T.Chang, H.S.Liu & Y.Z.Zhang Camellia borealiyunnanica H.T.Chang Camellia brevicolumna H.T.Chang, H.S.Liu & Y.Z.Zhang Camellia brevigyna H.T.Chang Camellia brevipetiolata H.T.Chang Camellia chunii H.T.Chang Camellia heterophylla Hu Camellia huiliensis H.T.Chang Camellia jinshajiangica H.T.Chang & S.L.Lee Camellia kangdianica H.T.Chang, H.S.Liu & G.X.Xiang Camellia kweichowensis H.T.Chang Camellia lanosituba H.T.Chang Camellia oligophlebia H.T.Chang Camellia paucipetala H.T.Chang Camellia pentapetala H.T.Chang Camellia pentaphylacoides H.T.Chang Camellia pentaphylax H.T.Chang Camellia phelloderma H.T.Chang, H.S.Liu & Y.Z.Zhang Camellia stichoclada H.T.Chang Camellia subliberopetala H.T.Chang Camellia xichangensis H.T.Chang Camellia xylocarpa (Hu) H.T.Chang ex H.T.Chang & B.Bartholmew Desmitus reticulata (Lindl.) Raf. Thea reticulata (Lindl.) Pierre Yunnanea xylocarpa Hu

It is a loosely branched shrub or small tree, which can grow up to 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 ft) in height.^[4] The leaves are elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 5–11 centimetres (2.0–4.3 in) long and 4–5.5 centimetres (1.6–2.2 in) wide. The flowers are 7–10 centimetres (2.8–3.9 in) in diameter, or larger in some cultivars, soft-pink to deep-pink and rarely almost white, with 5–7 petals or more in some cultivars,^[5] and are produced in sub-terminal or axillary positions on the branch.^[5] The fruit is a light brown, three-segmented capsule, about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in diameter that ripens in the fall^[6] This Camellia is very susceptible to cold weather and has a late blooming season; August through October in the southern hemisphere and March through May in the northern hemisphere.^[7]

Symbolism and uses

Camellia reticulata is the floral emblem of Yunnan. It has a long history of cultivation, both for tea oil and for its ornamental value.^[8]

In 1820, Captain Richard Rawes of the East Indiaman Warren Hastings imported the first reticulata to England, (named 'Captain Rawes'). It remained the only known reticulata cultivated in Europe for over a century.^[9]