In Pursuit of Hidden Camellias: 32 New Camellia Species from Vietnam and China
In Pursuit of Hidden Camellias: 32 New Camellia Species from Vietnam and China
In Pursuit of Hidden Camellias: 32 New Camellia Species from Vietnam and China showcases our work and the book opens a door to a previously undiscovered, or forgotten, world: the Camellia species of South East Asia. 16 years in the making, TEA Associates, Orel and Curry travelled throughout South East Asia in search of new Camellia and other theaceous species.
In Pursuit of Hidden Camellias presents:
- The story of the rediscovery of Camellia piquetiana - ‘the Purple Camellia of Vietnam’ first collected and described by French plant hunters in the late 1880's
- The stories of discovery of 14 previously published ‘new’ Camellia species,18 Camellia species described for the first time. These species have been found over the last two decades and most of these were discovered by Orel and Curry.
Many of the Camellias are stunningly beautiful, or strikingly bizarre, and previously unseen photos bring their beauty and peculiarity alive. The authors have used photographic images, many taken in the field, to ‘sweeten’ and broaden the appeal of their arguments and discussions. We also discuss the background to our discoveries reflecting on often gruelling expeditions into sub-tropical and tropical jungles and mountain forests. This book should also whet the readers’ interest in future discoveries of Camellia species from this lush but challenging part of Asia.