camellia

n. [ NL., after Georg Josef Kamel, or Camelli, a Jesuit who is said to have brought it from the East. ] 1. (Bot.) An Asiatic genus of small shrubs, often with shining leaves and showy flowers. Camellia Japonica is much cultivated for ornament, and Camellia Sassanqua and Camellia oleifera are grown in China for the oil which is pressed from their seeds. The tea plant is now referred to this genus under the name of Camellia Thea. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Hort.) An ornamental greenhouse shrub (Thea japonica) with glossy evergreen leaves and roselike red or white double flowers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]