Grantham's Camellia

Taxobox | name = Grantham's Camellia.
status = lc

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Fruit of "Camellia granthamiana"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Theaceae
genus = "Camellia"
species = "C. granthamiana"
binomial = "Camellia granthamiana"
binomial_authority = J. R. Sealy

"Camellia granthamiana" (Chinese: 葛量洪茶), also Grantham's Camellia, is a rare, endangered species of "Camellia", which was first discovered in Hong Kong in 1955.

The distribution of the species is limited in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. Only one individual of the species was found at that time when it was discovered. A few more wild populations were found in Ma On Shan and also in Guangdong [ [http://www.hkherbarium.net/Herbarium/html%20text/26Camellia%20granthamiana.htm Camellia granthamiana] ] (including Shenzhen [ [http://www.hku.hk/ecology/porcupine/por22/22-bookreview.htm#wildplants Porcupine! 22 - Book Reviews] ] ).

It was first discovered in the ravine of Tai Mo Shan in 1955 by AFCD [Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/eindex.html] ] . It was named in honour of the then Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Alexander Grantham [ [http://www.hknature.net/eng/habitate/index6.html Hong Kong Nature Net] ] .

Tai Mo Shan Montane Scrub Forest in the upper Shing Mun Valley was assigned as a Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1975 as the forest supports this rare species and other species, "Camellia waldenae", "Amentotaxus argotaenia" and many species of orchids.

In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A.

References