Stewartia ovata, known commonly as mountain camellia,[4] is a small tree native to low to mid-elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains and nearby regions from Mississippi to Virginia. It is a member of the Theaceae, the tea family.

Stewartia ovata
Flower
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Theaceae
Genus:	Stewartia
Species:	S. ovata
Binomial name
Stewartia ovata (Cav.) Weatherby 1939
Range
Synonyms[3]
Malachodendron ovatum Cav. 1787

Although not endangered, the plant does have a limited range and is uncommon throughout its range. Mountain camellia grows in the understory of predominantly hardwood forests and tends to be found near streams, usually at elevations below 800 m (2,600 ft).

Description

Stewartia ovata is a deciduous flowering shrub or small tree growing to 5 meters (16 2/3 feet) tall, with smooth, flaking grayish-orange bark. The leaves are oval with an acute apex, 7–13 cm (2.8–5.1 in) long and 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) broad, and turn orange, red, or gold when the tree becomes dormant in the fall. The flowers are camellia-like, 6–12 cm (2.4–4.7 in) in diameter, with five white petals and numerous white, yellow or purple stamens; they appear in early to mid-summer.[5]

Varieties

There are two varieties:

• Stewartia ovata var. ovata — flowers 6–8 cm diameter, stamens white to yellow.
• Stewartia ovata var. grandiflora (W.J.Bean) Weatherby — flowers up to 12 cm diameter, stamens purple.

References

• NatureServe profile: Stewartia ovata
• TreeTrail: Stewartia ovata—Mountain Camellia profile

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stewartia ovata.