Camellia amplexicaulis | |
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Flower and leaves | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Theaceae |
Genus: | Camellia |
Species: | C. amplexicaulis
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Binomial name | |
Camellia amplexicaulis (Pit.) Cohen-Stuart
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Camellia amplexicaulis is a species of flowering tree in the tea family. Originally native to Vietnam, it has been considered extinct in the wild since 2018.[1] It is one of two species of trees in the tea family that only exists in cultivation, the other being Franklinia.[3] It is known in Vietnam as Hải đường.[4]
The species was first collected in 1910 in the Tam Đảo region of northern Vietnam. Its habitat was likely tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests. Although extinct in the wild, it is commonly cultivated in Vietnam and flowers are utilized during the Tết festival.[5]
C. amplexicaulis is highly variable in cultivation. The species is a small tree that may grow between 2 and 4 meters tall. Leaves are evergreen, glossy, and clasp the stem. Flowers are pink and emerge in late autumn to early spring. Fruit is round and shiny.[5]
Four species were split from Camellia amplexicaulis, including the white-flowered Camellia lucii in 2015. Camellia ingens, Camellia pyriparva and Camellia scabrosa were described in 2017.[5]