In a wild state is large and bushy, ranging in height from ten to fifteen feet, often assuming the proportions of a small tree. While in a state of cultivation its growth is limited by frequent prunings to from three to five feet, forming a polyandrous, shrub evergreen with bushy stem and numerous leafy branches. The leaves are alternate, large, elliptical and obtusely serrated, varied and placed in smooth short-channeled foot-stalks, the calyx being small, and divided into five segments. The flowers are white, axilary and slightly fragrant, often three together in separate pedicils, the corolla having from five to nine petals, cohering at the base with filaments numerous and inverted at the base of the corolla. The anthers are large, yellow and tre-foil, the capsule three-celled and three-seeded; and like all other plants in a state of cultivation, it has produced marked varieties, two of which _Thea Viridis_ and _Thea Bohea_ are critically described as distinct species, distinguished from each other in size, color, form and texture of the leaves, as well as other peculiarities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _a_—Gunpowder. _b_—Young Hyson. _c_—Imperial. _d_—Hyson. _e_—Twankay. _Thea Viridis_, (Green Tea Plant), ] Is a large, hardy, strong-growing shrub, with spreading branches and leaves one to two inches long, thin, weavy and almost membraneous, broadly lanceolate, but irregularly serrated and light-green in color. The flowers are large, white, solitary and mostly confined to the upper axil, having five sepals and seven petals, the fruit or pod being purple, nodding and three-seeded. It thrives without protection in the open air during winter, and is undoubtedly the species yielding the bulk of the Green teas of commerce. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _a_—Firsts. _b_—Seconds. _c_—Thirds. _d_—Fourths. _Thea Bohea_, (Black Tea Plant), ] Is a much smaller variety, with branches stiff, straight and erect, the leaves are also smaller, flat, oblong and coriaceous, but evenly serrated and dark-green in color. The flowers or blossoms are usually two to three, situated at the axils, having from five to seven sepals and petals, and possessing a slight fragrance. It is more tender and prolific than the green variety, not standing near as cold a climate, and yields the Black teas of commerce principally.