Camellia euphlebia

"Camellia euphlebia Merr. ex Sealy is a species of plant in the family Theaceae. It is found in China and Vietnam. It is threatened by habitat loss."

Camellia euphlebia Merr. ex Sealy, Kew Bull. 4(2): 216 (1949).

Camellia euphlebia Merr. ex Sealy, Photo by Hoang Thanh Son

its native range is China (Guangxi: Fangcheng) to N. Vietnam. 

Latin name:

Camellia euphlebia Merr. ex Sealy 

Family:

Theaceae Mirb. ex Ker Gawl.

Synonyms:

Camellia chrysantha var. macrophylla S.L.Mo & S.Z.Huang

Camellia euphlebia var. macrophylla (S.L.Mo & S.Z.Huang) C.X.Ye & J.Y.Liang

Vietnamese name:

Trà gân, Trà hoa vàng chanh.

Chinese name:

显脉金花茶 xian mai jin hua cha

Describtion:

Shrubs or trees, 2-5 m tall. Young branches grayish brown; current year branchlets purplish brown, thick, glabrous. Petiole 0.9-1.3 cm, stout, glabrous, adaxially grooved; leaf blade elliptic to broadly elliptic (11-)14-20(-25) × (4.5-)5-8(-15) cm, leathery, abaxially pale green, brown glandular punctate, and becoming pale brown when dry, adaxially dark green and slightly shiny, both surfaces glabrous, midvein abaxially elevated and adaxially impressed, secondary veins 11-13 on each side of midvein, abaxially raised, and adaxially slightly impressed, base obtuse to subrounded, margin serrulate, apex abruptly shortly caudate to caudate and with a blunt tip. Flowers axillary or subterminal, solitary or paired. Pedicel ca. 5(-7) mm, thick; bracteoles (7 or)8, appressed and covering pedicel, semiorbicular, 1-3 × 3-5 mm, leathery, outside green and glabrous, inside brown and white sericeous, margin ciliolate. Sepals 5, semiorbicular to broadly ovate, 4-5 × 5-7 mm, leathery, outside green and glabrous, inside brown and white sericeous, margin ciliolate. Petals 7-9, golden yellow, ± fleshy; outer 2 or 3 petals sepaloid, suborbicular, 1-1.5 cm, concave; inner petals broadly obovate to obovate-elliptic, 2.5-4 × 2-2.5 cm, glabrous, basally connate for 5-10 mm and adnate to androecium, apex rounded. Stamens numerous, 2-3.5 cm, glabrous; outer filament whorl basally connate for 1-1.5 cm. Ovary ovoid, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., glabrous, 3-loculed; styles 3, distinct, 2-3.5 cm. Capsule oblate, 3-coccal, 2-3 × 3.5-6 cm, 3-loculed with 1 or 2 seeds per locule, apex sunken; pericarp 2-3 mm thick when dry. Seeds brown, globose or hemispherical, 1.5-2 cm in diam., glabrous.

Distribution: 

China Southeast, Vietnam.

Ecological:

Evergreen broad-leaved forests along streams; at elevations from 100 - 500 m. 

Cultivation:

Camellia species are found mainly in the warm temperate to subtropical regions of southern China, and most species experience mild winters with few frosts plus wet summers. Camellia euphlebia is found mainly at low elevations in southern China, and will only succeed outdoors in the very mildest regions of the temperate zone.

Species in this genus generally prefer a peaty, more or less lime-free soil with a pH in the range 5 - 7, but most will grow well in an open loam to which ample leaf-mould has been added, so long as it is well-drained and lime-free. Most species are understorey plants in forests (preferably oak or pine) and prefer a warm, sheltered position with moderate shade; at least at the hottest time of day. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds.

Flower times:

Flowering period: Dec, Fruits ripen in Oct.

Type:

Tsang, W.T. [27346], Vietnam K000704300 Unknown type material

Tsang, W.T. [27346], Vietnam K000704301 Unknown type material

Chemical and Pharmacology:

Saponin and essential oil.

GC/MS analysis showed that the principal components of the oil of C. euphlebia , while phytol (58%), geranylacetone (5.6%) and n-hexanal (3.3%) are the major constituents of the oil of C. euphlebia. the antimicrobial activities of the oils were tested against four microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) by the disc diffusion method. Except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the tested microorganisms were sensitive to the oils, and inhibition zones from 12.1 to 24.3 mm were observed. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC values) were determined to be 0.625–2.5 mg/mL, indicating the oils had weak antibacterial effects.

Uses:

The petals are fleshy and golden-yellow in colour. We have no specific information for this species, but since 2010, companies in Guangxi have been promoting yellow Camellia flowers as a medicinal product. It has been reported that a kilogram of of dried wild yellow Camellia flowers is priced at more than 10,000 yuan ($1,607), and consequently the golden-yellow petals of most, if not all, Camellia species in Guangxi are being harvested indiscriminately

Note:

References:

https://www.ipni.org/n/829902-1

http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:829902-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_euphlebia

http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Camellia+euphlebia

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242309951

Ge, L., Lin, B., Mo, J. et al. Composition and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oils from three yellow Camellia species. Trees 33, 205–212 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-018-1769-x

Su, L. & Mo, J.-G & Wei, Y.-L & Chen, Q.-H & Pan, Y.-K. (2012). Chemical constituents of saponins from leaves of Camellia euphlebia. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. 43. 877-879.