Camellia sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua
The autumn camellia (Camellia sasanqua Thunb., 1784) is a shrub species belonging to the Theaceae family.
Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Subclass Dilleniidae,
Order Theales,
Family Theaceae,
Genus Camellia,
Species C. sasanqua.
The terms are synonymous:
– Camellia miyagii (Koidz.) Makino & Nemoto;
– Camellia sasanqua var. angustifolia Miq.;
– Camellia sasanqua var. fujikoana Makino;
– Camellia sasanqua var. lanceolata Miq.;
– Camellia sasanqua var. latifolia Miq.;
– Camellia sasanqua var. obtusifolia Miq.;
– Camellia sasanqua var. serrata (Siebold ex Kochs) Masam.;
– Camellia sasanqua var. thunbergii Pierre;
– Camellia tegmentosa (Koidz.) Makino & Nemoto;
– Sasanqua malliflora Raf.;
– Sasanqua molliflora Raf., 1838;
– Sasanqua vulgaris Nees;
– Thea miyagii Koidz.;
– Thea sasanqua (Thunb.) Nois. ex Cels;
– Thea sasanqua var. serrata Siebold;
– Thea sasanqua var. serrata Siebold ex Kochs;
– Thea sasanqua var. thunbergii Pierre;
– Thea sinensis var. thunbergii Pierre;
– Thea tegmentosa Koidz..
Etymology –
The genus name Camellia was dedicated by Linnaeus to the Moravian botanist and Jesuit missionary, Jiří Josef Kamel (1661-1706), not for having introduced the camellia, which he did not know, in Europe, as is often reported, but for his studies on the flora of the Philippines that he signed with the Latinized name Camellus.
The specific epithet sasanqua comes from the Japanese name “sazankwa”, meaning mountain tea flower.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Camellia sasanqua is a plant native to Japan (Kyushu and Ryukyu Islands).
Its habitat is usually that of evergreen coastal forests, grassy mountain slopes and forest clearings, where it grows between 500 and 1000 m above sea level.
Description –
Camellia sasanqua is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to about 5 m.
The young branches are reddish and pubescent.
The leaves are alternate, on a short petiole (0.3-0.5 cm), oblong or elliptical with a serrated edge. The leaf blade is dark green with bluish shades, leathery, 3-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, shiny on top with a prominent central vein and tomentose both above and below.
The flowers are subterminal, axillary, sessile (without a peduncle), 4-7 cm in diameter, with 8-10 green orbicular sepals, pubescent, ciliated at the edges, which detach when the flower opens (deciduous); the petals, 5-7 in number, are obovate or spatulate, white or red, 2-3 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide; the stamens are numerous, showy, yellow and the ovary is pubescent, globose, trilocular. The fruits are obovoid or globose capsules of about 2 cm in diameter containing 1-2 seeds per loculus. It reproduces by seed, in which case the first flowering occurs at the 4th-5th year of age, by layering, but usually by cutting.
Flowering is in the autumn-winter period and the flowers have a delicate sweet scent.
Cultivation –
Camellia sasanqua is a plant that is collected in the wild and also cultivated for its oil-rich seeds and aromatic petals that are the source of an essential oil. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a hedge.
It is a plant of great ornamental and landscape interest both for its flowering, which occurs in a very poor period from this point of view, and for its decorative foliage; the individual flowers are short-lived, but produced continuously for many weeks and in some varieties for months.
This species prefers cool and humid climates and is quite resistant to low temperatures, up to about -10 ° C and even less in some varieties, although the flowers can be ruined by icy winds. It is not particularly demanding in terms of soil, although it prefers fertile, loose, rich in organic substance, well-drained, subacid or neutral and kept moist; the optimal position is in light shade, but it also resists full sun if properly irrigated; any pruning should be done in early spring. Fertilization, moderate, should be done at the resumption of vegetative growth, preferably using organic or slow-release fertilizers, specific for acidophilic plants.
In Japan and China it is also cultivated for the oil extracted from the seeds.
The species of this genus generally prefer a peaty soil, more or less free of limestone with a pH between 5 and 7, but most grow well in a soil to which abundant leaf mold has been added, as long as it is well drained and free of limestone. Most species are forest undergrowth plants (preferably oak or pine) and prefer a warm and sheltered position with moderate shade; at least during the hottest hours of the day. It requires a position sheltered from strong winds and many cultivars tolerate full sun, in fact some reports state that the species flowers better in a sunny and warm position.
It adapts well to pot cultivation using soil for acidophilic plants with the addition of around 25% silica sand or agriperlite to improve drainage, keeping in mind that, especially in summer, constant humidity must be ensured; if calcareous water is used for watering, yellowing of the leaves may occur (iron chlorosis), in which case treat with iron chelates.
Camellia sasanqua is a plant resistant to diseases and generally to parasites, with the exception of scale insects, therefore it must be periodically checked to be able to intervene promptly with specific products.
From seed you can never be sure that the new plants are identical to the mother plant, given the intrinsic genetic variability of the species; this method is generally used by those who want to obtain new varieties or hybrids.
The plants are not very self-compatible, self-fertilized flowers produce few seeds and these are of low vitality.
It reproduces mostly by cuttings, carried out in summer using semi-woody branch portions of 10-15 cm in length, to which two apical leaves are left, put to root in a very draining and light substrate, consisting for example of peaty soil and silica sand, or agri-perlite, in equal parts; rooting is rather slow (100-120 days). The species has given rise to numerous varieties and hybrids with simple, semi-double and double flowers in various shades of color, from white, to pink, to red and even bicolor.
The plants are affected by the transplant, so it is better to plant them in their final positions when they are still young.
Camellia sasanqua, due to its strong resistance to fungal diseases, in particular Glomerella cingulata and Phytophthora cinnamoni, is often used as a rootstock for other camellias.
Uses and Traditions –
Camellia sasanqua is known by several common names, including: autumn camellia, Christmas camellia, sasanqua camellia (English); autumn camellia, winter camellia, Christmas camellia (Italian); camélia d’automne, camélia de Noël (French); camélia de Natal, camélia de outono, cameleira-sasanqua (Portuguese); camelia del otoño (Spanish); herbstblühenden kamelien (German).
Historically, at the beginning of the Edo period, cultivars of Camellia sasanqua began to appear; the first record of cultivars of this plant was made by Ihei Ito (1695–1733). The Japanese call it Sazanka (サザンカ, 山茶花).
This plant was not known to Western society until Captain Richard Rawes of the East Indiaman Warren Hastings brought Camellia sasanqua var. stricata to his relative, Thomas Carey Palmer, of Bromley in Kent in 1820. Then in 1869, Dutch traders imported some specimens to Europe. It has now also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
This plant has a long history of cultivation in Japan for practical rather than decorative reasons. The leaves are used to make tea while the seeds or nuts are used to make tea seed oil, which is used for lighting, lubrication, cooking and cosmetic purposes. Tea oil has a higher caloric content than any other edible oil naturally available in Japan.
Camellia sasanqua is prized in gardens for its beautiful glossy green foliage and single fragrant flowers that can range in color from white to deep pink and are produced very early in the season. Various cultivars have been selected, including ‘Crimson King’, ‘Hugh Evans’ and ‘Jean May’ which have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Among the food hazards, it is worth remembering that a substance called Ch’da tsaiping has been reported in Hong Kong, as derived from the residual seed cake of Camellia sasanqua and has been used to poison fish; for this reason it has a use in aquaculture for the control of unwanted predatory fish in waterways.
In Japan, and even more so in China, the plant is grown for the oil extracted from its seeds, used in the cosmetics industry, as a lubricant, and in the past for lighting, but also widely used for food.
The oil is made up of approximately 80% oleic acid and 10% linoleic acid, it also contains proteins, vitamins A, B, D and E and minerals and has antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Its leaves are often used to flavor tea and the wood is used to make small objects of common use.
The date of introduction in Europe is not certain, it is believed to be around the middle of the 19th century, while the exact date in England is known, 1879.
Other uses include agroforestry; the plants can be used as hedges. The cultivar ‘Onigoromo’ has been mentioned specifically for this purpose.
From an ecological point of view, Camellia sasanqua is present in a large habitat so, at the moment, there are no current threats for this species. The plant is classified as “least concern” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2013).
How to Prepare –
Camellia sasanqua is a plant used for various purposes.
The oil obtained from the seeds is edible when refined and is said to be of equal quality to olive oil.
The leaves are mixed with tea to give it a pleasant aroma.
Medicinally, a decoction is obtained (apparently from the petals) which is a demulcent and expectorant.
A green dye is obtained from the pink or red petals.
A decoction of the plant (may refer to the oil in the seed) is used as a soap substitute for washing greasy clothes.
The scented petals are used as a raw material for the production of perfumes.
A non-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It can be used for lighting, lubrication, soap making, hairdressing oil and fabric oil.
The oil obtained from the seed of this species is probably very similar in quality to that obtained from Camellia oleifera.
The seed contains 40-50% of a non-drying oil. The oil is mainly oleic acid. It does not undergo polymerization or oxidation, nor does it form solids at low temperatures.
The oil has a wide range of applications. It is a good raw material for industrial uses, used as an illuminant, in the manufacture of textiles and in the manufacture of articles such as soap, margarine, hair oil, lubricants, inks and paints. It is also used in the synthesis of other high molecular weight compounds and to make an anti-rust coating for metals. It is often used in medicine and cosmetics in products such as skin creams and anti-wrinkle compounds.
A number of compounds are extracted from the seeds once the oil has been removed. These include saponins (used as an emulsifying agent in pesticides, insecticides, for use in foaming fire extinguishers and in detergents), tannins and pentosan.
The seed paste has insecticidal activity and has been shown to provide effective control of a range of pests.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (eds.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Pharmacy of the Lord, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/167191714/original.jpg
– https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Camellia_sasanqua_SZ83.png
Warning: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgic uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore, any responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or nutritional purposes is declined.