Life History and Reproduction

Like all plants, Camellia sinensis undergoes an alteration of generations. In tea plants, the sporophyte - diploid - is the dominant stage in Camellia sinensis’ life cycle and the gametophytes - haploid - are the minor stage. Through meiosis, a sporophyte creates a gametophyte. Gametophytes will fuse via cross pollination where wind or an insect acts as a pollinizer. The pollinizer transports the pollen from one plant to another, creating the fusion of gametophytes. After the gametophytes fuse, a zygote – diploid – is created and through mitosis this plant will grow until it reaches adulthood.

Camellia sinensis is a shrub that can reach up to thirty feet in height. The leaves on the plant are evergreen and during the adult stage, the leaves become dark green, leathery, and very smooth. These leaves can grow to be about one to twelve inches in length; furthermore, the flower buds can grow in clusters or singles on the leaf axils. These buds resemble a flower’s bud because they are spherical and they dangle off the plant's stem. Camellia sinensis' leaves are brownish green and are four lobed with one to three dark brown seeds inside each leaf. The seeds the plant produces stay dormant until the time is right for them to sprout. When the surroundings are suitable, the seed will go through mitosis and it will eventually reach adulthood.

With the knowledge of how C. sinensis lives and reproduces, let us learn about its Habitat and Geography.