Ternstræmiaceæ

Ternstræmiaceæ, a natural order of polypetalous plants, consisting of trees and shrubs, natives of warm and temperate countries. About 150 species are known. They are most abundant in South America; a few are found in North America; some in India, China, and the Indian Archipelago. The leaves are alternate, leathery, in many species evergreen, generally undivided, sometimes dotted. This order is very important as containing the Tea-shrubs. It is also interesting because of the great beauty both of the foliage and flowers of many of the species, of which the genus Camellia affords the best-known examples. See TEA, CAMELLIA, and GORDONIA. The genus Ternstræmia was named in 1781 from the Swedish naturalist Ternström.