Hongtaige

Chen, Shao Yun, 1987, Camellias from Zhejiang, p.80, colour photo, [p.147]: Red, peony form double, 7-8 cm across, with 100-200 petals and petaloids, including two rows of large, outer petals. Leaves mid-green, elliptic, 5.3-7.6 cm long x 2.2-3.9 cm wide, apices acute, margins serrate. Late blooming. Synonyms: ‘Zhongta’, ‘Qixinghong’, See: Gao & Zhuang, 1989, The Camellia in China, pp.42, 43, No.231, colour photo No.125. Origi­nated in China.

Hongtaige. (Camellia japonica)  Synonym: None  Originate: Sichuan  Characteristics: Plant growth vigorous, with open canopy, abundantly branching, proliferous shoots. Leaves somewhat yellowish green, glossy, flat, with serration deep, elliptic, with apex apiculate and recurved, base broad obtuse, measured 8 cm to 10 cm across by 4 cm to 5 cm wide, with margins slightly reflexed. Sepals open. Flowers bright red. Petals rounded, heavy texture, with apex deeply notched. Outer petals flat and slightly reflexed outward, about 30 segments. Irregular small petaloids by all stamens, with large petals in one row at centre isolated by outer normal petals, imbricated in two layers as floral dome incentre, occasional stamens in centre, peony double form, medium floral abundance, diameter 6 cm to 8 cm. Flowers February to April, with fully blooming in March.  Key points of identification: Large normal stamens in one row mixed with small petaloids in centre, isolated by outer normal petals, forming a floral dome in centre.

红台阁 Camellia japonica ‘Hongtaige’。汪亦萍、俞仲辂，中国建筑工业出版社，1989《山茶花》第34页。武瓣型，又名重台阁，灌木，小枝粗壮，灰褐色。叶椭圆形，长6-7.5厘米，宽3.5-4厘米，先端渐尖，基部楔形，锯齿疏锐。表面绿色。侧网脉明显，背面淡绿色。花蕾椭圆形，苞萼片黄绿色。花大红色，下层一轮大瓣5-6片，其上是数轮排列紧密的具柄小花瓣，其上又是5-6片大瓣，中心是具柄的小花瓣和雄蕊，整个花冠呈圆筒状台阁形，花径9-10厘米，髙5-6厘米。有时第二层大瓣和中心小辮洒白色斑纹。产四川。花期：3-4月。

陈绍云等,1985《浙江山茶花》80页。周利主编、2011《川茶品种图鉴》 p.88。树势开张，生长旺盛，成枝力强，枝叶茂密；叶色偏黄,叶片平展光亮，叶齿较深，叶椭圆形，先端渐尖，基部宽楔形，时长8cm~10cm,宽4cm〜5cm,叶缘略反卷，叶尖向下弯。花萼开张，花大红色，花瓣椭圆近圆形，质地厚实，瓣端有缺凹，外层花瓣平展约30枚，向外反卷，雄蕊部分化成小花瓣，大小不整齐，花心部雄蕊瓣化瓣带一轮大花瓣，将外轮瓣化瓣隔开,形成两层,形似台阁状，花心见部分雄蕊，牡丹型,花量中等，花径6cm〜8cm,,花期2月~4月，盛花期3月。识别特征：花心部雄蕊瓣化瓣带一轮大花瓣，将外轮辦化瓣隔开，形似台阁状。原始产地：四川