(27) 香港茶
Camellia hongkongensis Seem.
山茶科(Theaceae)

英文名 (English name): Hong Kong Camellia

中國境內現狀：瀕危 (EN)
Status in China: Endangered (EN)

形態特徵：喬木，高10米，嫩枝紅褐色，無毛。葉革質，長圓形，長7-13厘米，寬2-4厘米，先端銳尖，基部楔形，上面發亮，無毛，邊緣有疏鈍齒；葉柄長1厘米。花紅色，無柄，直徑5-7厘米；苞片及萼片被有脫落性絹毛；花瓣6-7，長3.5-4厘米，基部連生；雄蕊長3厘米，無毛；子房有毛，花柱3-4，離生。蒴果球形，直徑3厘米，3-4室。

地理分布: 扯旗山、薄扶林、聶高信山、柏架山。廣東。

生境與生態：生於山地疏林中。花期：12月至翌年2月。
　　

本種花大，紅色，為良好的觀賞植物。本種於1849年初次發現於扯旗山，隨後再發現於香港島其他地點，廣東省亦有少量分布。在香港的生長地點多數位於郊野公園內，受到保護。本種受《林務規例》(香港法例第96章附例)保護。漁護署已採種育苗，進行遷地保護，城門標本林內有栽培。

Description: Trees, to 10 m tall; young branches reddish brown, glabrous. Leaves leathery, oblong, 7-13 cm long, base cuneate, glossy above, glabrous on both surfaces, margin sparsely and obtusely dentate; petiole 1 cm long. Flowers red, sessile, 5-7 cm in diam.; bracts and sepals covered with caducous silky hairs; petals 6-7, 3.5-4 cm long, base connate; stamens 3 cm long, glabrous; ovary hairy, styles 3-4, distinct. Capsule globose, 3 cm in diameter, 3-4-locular.

Distribution: Victoria Peak, Pok Fu Lam, Mount Nicholson, Mount Parker. Guangdong.

Habitat and ecology: In thin forest. Flowering: Dec. to Feb. of the following year.
　　

The large and red flower make it a very charming ornamental plant. This species was first discovered in 1849 in a ravine in Victoria Peak and only three individuals were found at that time. It was subsequently found in several localities in Hong Kong Island as well as in Guangdong Province. In Hong Kong, most of the localities of occurrence are in Country Parks under protection. The species is also protected under the Forestry Regulations (Cap. 96 sub. leg.). AFCD have been actively propagating this plant and reintroducing it into the wild. Seeds have been collected in the field and seedlings raised. Ex-situ conservation has also been adopted and living specimens are displayed in the Shing Mun Arboretum.

參考文獻 (References):
張宏達，1991：廣東植物誌2：134，圖85：1-3。廣東科技出版社，廣州。
張宏達，1998：中國植物誌49(3): 71，圖版20：1-3。科學出版社，北京。
閔天祿，2000：世界山茶屬的研究 256-257。雲南科技出版社，昆明。
Seemann, B., 1859: Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 22(4): 342, t.60.