Rank Species | Genus Camellia Higher classification Camellia | |
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Similar Camellia, Camellia granthamiana, Theaceae, Camellia crapnelliana, Camellia fraterna | ||
Camellia hongkongensis (Chinese: 香港茶; literally: "Hong Kong tea"), the Hong Kong camellia, is a species of camellia.
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Description
Camellia hongkongensis is a small evergreen tree which can grow to 10 m-30 feet tall. Of the camellia species native to Hong Kong, only this species bears red flowers.
Its young branches are reddish brown. The leaves are leathery and oblong with 7–13 cm long. The young branches and leaf are glabrous.
Distribution
In Hong Kong, three individuals of the species were first discovered in a ravine in Victoria Peak by Colonel Eyre in 1849; it is later found in Pok Fu Lam, Mount Nicholson, Mount Parker on Hong Kong Island. It is also found in Guangdong.
Specimens of the Hong Kong camellia are living in the Shing Mun Arboretum public gardens. In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A.
Camellia hongkongensis was introduced to Japan in 1958 from Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
