Tieke Zipao

Gao & Zhuang, 1989, The Camellia in China, p.52, No.335, colour photo, No.193: Large size, 10-12 cm across, crimson, slightly irregular formal double with 5-6 rows of emarginate petals, diminishing in size to a concave centre. Blooms mid-season to late. Originated in China.

Tieke zipao.(Camellia japonica )  Synonym: Camellia japonica ‘Dazhusha’,  Originate: Chongqing  Characteristics: plant habit open, erect; secondary branches thick and young shoot with dark red color, relatively slow growth. Leaves dense, thicker, yellowish green, elliptical. Leaf apex acuminate, base obtuse, serration deep and dense, measured 7.5 cm to 9 cm in length by 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm in width. Sepals obviously iron-rusty. Flower rose double. Petals flat, up to 60, imbricated regularly in rows, elliptical and thick, apex notched, clearly veined, large sized, purely red to dark red, occasionally mixed with little white irregular petals, dense, measuring 10 cm to 12 cm in diameter. Blooming February to April, at full blooming early in March, well-known as purely red variety among Sichuan camellias.  Key points of identification: Large flower with bright red color. Sepals typically iron-rusty. Young shoot dark red, and plant habit erect.

周利主编、2011《川茶品种图鉴》 p.178。植株开张，枝姿挺拔、直立，小枝粗壮，嫩梢暗红色，生长较缓慢；叶幕密集，质硬，叶色偏黄，叶椭圆形，先端渐尖，基部宽楔形，叶齿深而密，长7.5cm-9cm,宽3.5cm-4.5cm;萼片具明显铁锈色，因而得名，平瓣花多轮，约60枚，排列整齐，玫瑰重瓣型，花瓣椭圆形，先端略有缺凹，花瓣质厚，瓣脉明显，大型花，花大红色偏深，有时花心夹有少许具有白尖的小碎瓣，花朵稠密，花径10cm-12cm，花期2月-4月，盛花期3月，是川茶中的大花品种。本品种抗二氧化硫和粉尘能力强，耐高温，耐日晒，长势旺盛。识别特征：花大色艳，萼片具明显铁锈色，嫩梢喑红色，树势挺拔。原始产地：重庆