Teepensas – Camellia sinensis

Leaves are alternate, without stipules. Leaf blades are lanceolate to obovate, up to 15 x 5 cm, leathery and glossy on upper surface, sparsely hairy on lower surface, with serrate margins. Leaves produced at early stage or after pruning are larger than subsequently formed leaves. Flowers are axillary, solitary, or in clusters of 2-4, with short pedicels, fragrant, 2.5-5 cm in diameter. Calyx is persistent with 5-7 small green sepals. Petals are 5-7, showy, white or tinged pink, obovate, concave. Stamens are numerous, 8-12 mm long, with yellow anthers. Petals and outer stamens are united for a short distance at base. Ovary is superior, hairy. Style has 3-5 stigmatic lobes. Fruit is a capsule, thick-walled, brownish-green, 3-lobed, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, dehiscing by splitting from apex into 3 valves.  Each lobe of the capsule has 1-3 roundish seeds.