Camellia oleifera, which originated in China, is notable as an important source of edible oil (known as tea oil or camellia oil) obtained from its seeds.[2] It is commonly known as the oil-seed camellia or tea oil camellia, though to a lesser extent other species of camellia are used in oil production too.
It is widely distributed in China and is cultivated extensively there. It is found in forests, thickets, banks of streams and foothills at elevations of 500 to 1,300 metres.[3]
This species looks much similar to Camellia sasanqua except the dark green, evergreen leaves are a bit larger, three to five inches long and two to three inches wide. Single, white, fragrant flowers are produced in mid to late fall, and this large shrub or small tree will reach a height of 20 feet with thin, upright, multiple trunks and branches. The crown forms a rounded or oval vase with lower branches removed.[4]
The seeds of Camellia oleifera can be pressed to yield tea seed oil, a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil. In tea seed oil, oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid comprises ~80% of the total fatty acid content - the oil is similar in composition to olive oil.
Tea oil is also known as "Tea Seed Oil" when sold as cooking oil in supermarkets throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United States.[5]
It can also be used in textile manufacture, in soap making and, when burned in an oil lamp, as a source of light.[3] Camellia oil is also traditionally used to protect Japanese woodworking tools and cutlery from corrosion and is currently sold for that purpose.[6][7]
See alsoedit
Tea tree oil is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia - it is an essential oil used for medical and cosmetic purposes and is toxic when ingested.
Tea tree is a name sometimes applied to a number of different species of plants endemic to Australia. These plants are unrelated to the tea plant.
Referencesedit
^Wheeler, L. (2015). "Camellia oleifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T62056210A62056214. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T62056210A62056214.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^Odate, T: "Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use" page 174. Linden Publishing, Reprint edition 1998.
^Nakahara, Y; Sato, H.; Nii, P.: "Complete Japanese Joinery: A Handbook of Japanese Tool Use and Woodworking for Joiners and Carpenters" pages 5, 15, 28. Hartley & Marks Publishers, 1998
External linksedit
Media related to Camellia oleifera at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Camellia oleifera at Wikispecies
February 15, 2024
camellia, oleifera, which, originated, china, notable, important, source, edible, known, camellia, obtained, from, seeds, commonly, known, seed, camellia, camellia, though, lesser, extent, other, species, camellia, used, production, seed, camelliaconservation,. Camellia oleifera which originated in China is notable as an important source of edible oil known as tea oil or camellia oil obtained from its seeds 2 It is commonly known as the oil seed camellia or tea oil camellia though to a lesser extent other species of camellia are used in oil production too Oil seed camelliaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder EricalesFamily TheaceaeGenus CamelliaSpecies C oleiferaBinomial nameCamellia oleiferaC AbelIt is widely distributed in China and is cultivated extensively there It is found in forests thickets banks of streams and foothills at elevations of 500 to 1 300 metres 3 This species looks much similar to Camellia sasanqua except the dark green evergreen leaves are a bit larger three to five inches long and two to three inches wide Single white fragrant flowers are produced in mid to late fall and this large shrub or small tree will reach a height of 20 feet with thin upright multiple trunks and branches The crown forms a rounded or oval vase with lower branches removed 4 Contents 1 Uses 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksUses editMain article Tea seed oil The seeds of Camellia oleifera can be pressed to yield tea seed oil a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil In tea seed oil oleic acid a monounsaturated fatty acid comprises 80 of the total fatty acid content the oil is similar in composition to olive oil Tea oil is also known as Tea Seed Oil when sold as cooking oil in supermarkets throughout Australia New Zealand and the United States 5 It can also be used in textile manufacture in soap making and when burned in an oil lamp as a source of light 3 Camellia oil is also traditionally used to protect Japanese woodworking tools and cutlery from corrosion and is currently sold for that purpose 6 7 See also editTea tree oil is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia it is an essential oil used for medical and cosmetic purposes and is toxic when ingested Tea tree is a name sometimes applied to a number of different species of plants endemic to Australia These plants are unrelated to the tea plant References edit Wheeler L 2015 Camellia oleifera IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T62056210A62056214 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 4 RLTS T62056210A62056214 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 The Huntington Botanical Gardens The Camellia Garden Archived from the original on 2014 02 24 a b Plants for a Future Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2015 01 16 Gilman Edward F Watson Dennis G November 1993 Fact Sheet ST 116 Camellia oleifera Tea Oil Camellia PDF USDA Forest Service Archived from the original PDF on May 31 2016 via University of Florida Lee Chia Pu Yen Gow Chin Antioxidant Activity and Bioactive Compounds of Tea Seed Camellia oleifera Abel Oil Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Taiwan 54 3 779 784 doi 10 1021 jf052325a Archived from the original on September 29 2007 via American Chemical Society Odate T Japanese Woodworking Tools Their Tradition Spirit and Use page 174 Linden Publishing Reprint edition 1998 Nakahara Y Sato H Nii P Complete Japanese Joinery A Handbook of Japanese Tool Use and Woodworking for Joiners and Carpenters pages 5 15 28 Hartley amp Marks Publishers 1998External links edit nbsp Media related to Camellia oleifera at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Camellia oleifera at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Camellia oleifera amp oldid 1184365940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
