'Collected Species of the Genus Camellia'

authors:  Gao Jiyin, Clifford R. Parks, and Du Yueqiang

published in China in March, 2005.  ISBN 7-5341-2594-4, 302 pages.

There are 119 to 280 species of the genus Camellia depending on the taxonomist who has done the classification. This book describes, briefly discusses, and illustrates with photographs 199 named species – the first time that so many species have been brought together with photographs.

The International Camellia Species Garden in Jinhua, China, which holds more than 200 species (2003 International Camellia Journal, p. 18-24), is the basis for the book. It follows the classification system of Chang Hungta, published in 1981 and amended in 1982 and 1996, and revised in 1998. Chang, a professor at Sun Yatsen University, Guangzhou, China, has estimated that there are about 280 species.

In 2000, Ming Tienlu, a professor at the Kunming Institute of Botany, published his revision of the genus, in which the number of species is reduced to 119. Ming’s revision follows more closely the first modern revision, published in 1958 by J. Robert Sealy of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Sealy named 82 species which were known at that time, and mentioned an additional 24 doubtful ones. The bare bones of these systems are outlined in the book.

The text of the new book is in Chinese and English. It tells where each of the 199 species is found, and includes general comments and botanical characteristics. The general comments explain why a species is important and often where it fits in the different classification systems. The reader is assisted in following the botanical characteristics by a brief explanation of botanical terms near the front of the book – a helpful touch for those who have never studied botany.

There has never been anything quite like this book. It fills a great need for general information about camellia species that has not been readily available.

The book might have been more user friendly if the species had been presented completely alphabetically rather than alphabetically by Chang’s sections, which can be a bit confusing. But the index is straightforward and helps to overcome this.

The book was produced in a rush to have ready at the March, 2005, Congress in Locarno, Switzerland, of the International Camellia Society.  This means that the photos of a few camellias – for example, C.gilberti and C.chungkingensis – are of leaves only, no blooms. Some of the colours, particularly the reds (always difficult) but also some yellows, are not well done.  A few photos are either out of focus or were out of register when printed. And there are a few errors that might have been found with more time to proofread.

Over-all, the book is a fine achievement.

Reviewed by Herbert Short, in ICS U.K. Region summer 2005 newsletter.

Price and availability:

The price of each copy of the book (by air & registered mail) is US$78.00.  To order, please contact Mr. Gao Jiyin to arrange bank transfer or send order complete with U.S.-dollar check directly to:

Mr. Gao Jiyin
Subtropical Forestry Research Institute,
Fuyang,Zhejiang,
P. R. CHINA 311400
E-mail address: gaojiyin@21cn.com