Abstract
A plant morphological investigation was conducted on Taiwan-yamacha growing at Lienhuachih and Mt. Shuisheta districts in the middle Formosa and at Liukuei district in the south. From the results of that investigation, it was found that the tea plant growing at Lienhuachih showed treetype having rough branching and a maximum hight of 12 meter but on the contrary the tea plant growing at Mt. Shuishete or Liukuei showed shrub-type having relatively tight branching.
No clear difference in the characteristics of leaf was observed between tea plant growing in these different districts. Usually eight pairs in number of veins were observed. New buds and young leaves of the tea plant growing at Lienhuachih were observed all containing anthocyan but those of other districts showed no uniformity in these characteristics. It was unfortunate to have no opportunity to observe the floral organ during the flowering stage of tea plant growing at Lienhuachih. On the basis of the observation for the floral organ after the flowering stage, it seemed that the ovary and the style did not show an extraordinary characteristic.
The maximum length of the scale covering the winter bud of the tea plant growing at Lienhuachih appeared 4cm and these characteristics had a resemblance to that of YABUTUBAKI (Camellia japonica) or SAZANKA (C. sasanqus) . The surface of pericarp of this fruit showed warty. From these observation, it was found that the above mentioned characteristics of Lienhuachih tea plant were markedly different from those of the known species and varieties of the tea plant.
It was proved that three strains of Taiwan.yamacha exist in Formosa which are two strains of hill district and one strain of mountain district. It cannot be concluded yet whether the Taiwanyamacha is one of the varieties of the tea plant or it belongs to quite different species. Further investigation must reveal this point.
