Flowers of San Francisco Botanical Garden: January 2012

There are well over 300 species and cultivars of the Camellia genus in San Francisco Botanical Gardens. Though it doesn't grow well in this garden, the most economically important member of this genus is called Camellia sinensis, or the Tea Plant. This is the plant from which all true "teas" come, including black, green, oolong, and white teas. However, please don't confuse this tree with Melaleuca alternifoli, the Tea Tree from which tea tree oil is produced. That tree is in the myrtle family. Tea Plants have been cultivated for millennia throughout Asia, and have played an important part in Asian cultures. Originally brought to Japan from China by Buddists monks, tea eventually became a central part of traditional Japanese culture in tea ceremonies, or Sado (茶道, The Way of Tea). It is said that all aspects of traditional Japan are tied to the Way of Tea, so that to study tea, you study all things Japanese. In tea ceremonies, an un-blossomed, or just blossoming bud from a Tsubaki (椿, Camellia japonica) is used as the traditional decorative flower. The way camellias fall to the ground whole, and still in fully-bloomed beauty is symbolically linked to the Samurai warrior, who similarly dies in full splendor, without withering away.
There are several other genera of plants in the family to which the Camellias belong, Theaceae. Those plants are included here as well.