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The Natural History of the Tea-Tree, with Observations on the Medical Qualities of Tea, and on the Effects of Tea-Drinking cover

The Natural History of the Tea-Tree, with Observations on the Medical Qualities of Tea, and on the Effects of Tea-Drinking

Chapter 4: PART THE FIRST.
By John Coakley Lettsom
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History - Modern (1750+)NutritionScience - Biology

About This Book

The work combines botanical description and practical guidance with a medical survey of tea and its consumption. The first part examines the plant’s classification, morphology, origin, soil and culture, leaf gathering, methods of curing and preparation, recognized varieties, and means of preserving seed, supplemented by illustrations and comparative notes. The second part reviews clinical observations, experiments, and contemporary opinions about tea’s physiological effects and therapeutic uses, and discusses substitutes and public habits of drinking. The presentation seeks to gather dispersed accounts and offer practical recommendations grounded in observation.

THE

NATURAL HISTORY

OF THE

TEA-TREE.

PART THE FIRST.

SECTION I.
CLASS XIII. ORDER I.

POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

{ Perianthium
{   quinquepartitum,
K. Calyx, { minimum,
Fig. 1, 2, 3. 10. { planum,
{ segmentis rotundis,
{ obtusis,
{ persistentibus. (Fig. 1. K.)
{ A Perianthium
{   quinquepartite,
{ very small,
K. The Calyx, { flat,
Fig. 1, 2, 3. 10. { the segments round,
{ obtuse,
{ permanent. (Fig. 1. K.)

{ Petala sex,
{
{ subrotunda,
{
{ concava:
{ duo exteriora
{   (F. 4. 7. C. C.)
{ minora,
{ inæqualia,
{
C. Corolla, { Nondum expansa:
F. 1. 3, 4, {   (F. 3. C.)
5, 6, 7, 8. {
{ quatuor interiora,
{   (F. 6. C. C. C. C.
{   & F. 5.)
{ magna,
{ æqualia,
{ antequam decidunt,
{   recurvata. (F. 8.
{   C. C.)
{ The Petals six[1],
{ subrotund, or
{   roundish.
{ concave:
{ two exterior,
{   (F. 4. 7. C. C.)
{ less,
{ unequal,
C. The Corolla { the flower before
F. 1. 3, 4, {   it is fully blown:
5, 6, 7, 8. {   (F. 3. C.)
{ four interior (F. 6.
{   C. C. C. C. and
{   F. 5.)
{ large,
{ equal,
{ before they fall off,
{   recurvate. (F. 8.
{   C. C.)

{ f. Filamenta numerosa,
{   (ducenta circiter.)
{   (f. a. F. 6. 9.)
{   filiformia,
Stamina, {
F. 6. 9, 10, 11. { corolla breviora.
{
{ a. Antheræ } (F. 10. 11.
{   cordatæ, } *Lente aucta.)
{   biloculares. }
{ f. The Filaments
{   numerous[2], (f. a.
{   Fig. 6. 9.)
The Stamens, {   (about 200.)
F. 6. 9, 10, 11. { filiform,
{ shorter than the
{   Corolla.
{
{ a. The Antheras } (F. 10. 11.
{   cordate, } *magnified.)
{   bilocular[3]. }
{ g. Germen globosotrigonum.
{   (F. 1. 10. 12.)
{
{ s. Stylus simplex,
{   ad apicem trifidus,
{   (F. 12.)
{
Pistillum, { Petalis Staminibusque
F. 1. 10. 12. {   delapsis,
*Lente auctum. {   a se mutuo
{   recedentes,
{   divaricantes, &
{   longitudine aucta,
{   marcescentes.
{   (F. 1. 12.)
{
{ t. Stigmata simplicia.
{   (F. 1. 9. 10. 12.)
{ g. The Germen
{   three globular
{   bodies joined
{   (F. 1. 10. 12.)
{
{ s. The Style
The Pistilium, {   simple, at the
F. 1. 10. 12. {   apex trifid,
*magnified. {   (F. 12.)
{
{ After the petals
{   and stamens are
{   fallen off, they
{   part from each
{   other, spread open,
{   increase in length,
{   and wither on the Germen.
{   (F. 1. 12.)
{
{ t. The Stigmas simple.
{   (F. 1. {9. 10. 12.)
{ Capsula ex tribus
{   globis coalita, (F. 13.)
{
P. Pericarpium, { trilocularis, (F. 14.)
F. 1. 13, 14. {
{ apice trifariam dehiscens. (F. 13.)
{ A Capsule in the form
{   of three globular bodies united,
{   (F. 13.)
{
P. The Pericarpium, {trilocular, (F. 14.)
F. 1. 13. 14. {
{ gaping at the top in three
{   directions, (F. 13.)
{ solitaria,
S. Semina, { globosa,
F. 14. { introrsum angulata.
{ single,
S. The Seeds, { globose,
F. 14. { angular on the inward side.
{ ramosus,
T. Truncus, { lignosus,
F. 1. { teres:
{ ramis alternis,
{ vagis,
{ rigidiusculis,
{ cinerascentibus,
{ prope apicem
{   rufescentibus.
{ ramose,
T. The Trunk[4], { ligneous,
F. 1. { round:
{ the branches alternate,
{ vague, or placed in
{   no regular order,
{ stiffish,
{ inclining to an ash
{   color,
{ towards the top
{   reddish.
{ axillares, (F. 1. p.)
{ alterni,
{ solitarii,
{ curvati,
{ uniflori,
Pedunculi, { incrassati, (F. 1, 2. 7.)
(F. 1. p.) { stipulati:
{ stipula solitaria,
{ subulata, } (F. 1, 2.
{ erecta. }   7. 9. d.)
{ alterna,
{ elliptica,
{ obtuse serrata,
{   marginibus interdentes
{   recurvatis.
{ axillary, (F. 1. p.)
{ alternate,
{ single,
{ curved,
{ uniflorous,
Peduncles, { incrassate, (F. 1. 2. 7.)[5]
F. 1. { stipulate:
{ the stipula single,
{ subulate, } (F. 1, 2.
{ erect. }   7. 9. d.)
{ alternate,
{ elliptical,
{ obtusely serrate,
{   edges between
{   the teeth recurvate.
{ apice marginata, }
{   (F. 15. e.) } *Lente aucta.
{ basi integerrima, }
{   (F. 16, 17.) }
F. Folia, {
F. 1. 15, 16, 17. { glabra,
{ nitida,
{ bullata,
{ subtus venosa,
{ consistentia,
{ petiolata:
{
{ Petiolis brevissimis,
{   (F. 1. 16, 17. b.)
{
{ subtus teretibus, } (F. 16. b.
{ gibbis, }   *Lente auctis.)
{
{ supra plano-canaliculatis.
{   (F. 17. b. *Lente auctis.)
{ apex emarginate, }
{   (F, 15. e.[6]) }
{ at the base } *magnified.
{   very entire, }
{   (F. 16, 17.) }
F. The Leaves, {
F. 1. 15, 16, 17. { smooth,
{ glossy,
{ bullate[7],
{ venose on the under side,
{ of a firm texture,
{ on foot-stalks:
{ The foot-stalks very short,
{   (F. 1. 16, 17. b.)
{
{ round on the under }
{   side, }
{ gibbous, or } (F. 16. b.
{   bunching out, }   *magnified.)
{
{ on the upper-side, flattish,
{   and slightly channelled.
{   (F. 17. b. *magnified.)

Nomina trivialia
Thea bohea & viridis.

The common names
bohea and green Teas.[8]

There is only one species of this plant; the difference of green and bohea Tea depending upon the nature of the soil, the culture, and manner of drying the leaves. It has even been observed, that a green Tea-tree, planted in the bohea country, will produce bohea Tea, and so the contrary.[9]