Theaceae

=Family description=
 * Shrubs to trees**, without exudate.
 * Leaves** simple, alternate, spirally arranged, often with toothed margins, usually smooth and shiny. Stipules absent.
 * Flowers** often solitary in leaf axils, spectacular with 5 small sepals, 5-6 showy petals and many stamens. Ovary superior, 5-locular.
 * Fruits** capsules that split open. Often with winged seeds.

=General info=
 * Distribution** Widespread with 600 species.
 * Ecology** Usually more common at higher elevations. Some species can tolerate disturbance quite well. Usually in closed forests.
 * Uses** Tea (//Camellia chinensis//), some ornamentals, and some timber species.
 * Similar to** Guttiferae (Clusiaceae, Calophyllaceae and Hypericaceae) but these differ in opposite leaves and yellow sap. Symplocaceae, but these differ in their inferior ovaries and presence of 3 bracts under each flower.

=Treated genera=
 * Camellia
 * Gordonia
 * Schima

Theaceae.pdf

Camellia lanceolata

Gordonia integerrima

Schima wallichii