Camellia lucii is a species of plant in the family Theaceae endemic to Vietnam. It is extinct in the wild and is only known from cultivation.
Description Camellia lucii is a small, flowering tree that strongly resembles C. amplexicaulis, but has white flowers. It can also be distinguished from C. amplexicaulis by the shape of the flowers, styles, and fruit, as well as by the surface of mature leaves.
Taxonomy It was described by George Orel and Anthony S. Curry in 2015.Camellia lucii Orel & Curry. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77151409-1 Camellia lucii was first noticed by scientists in 1999 at a commercial nursery in Hanoi. It was stated that the specimen was collected in the mountains near the city. In 2001, cuttings were taken from the specimen and grafted onto Camellia amplexicaulis rootstocks in Kulnura, Australia. Additional plants were propagated, and in 2015 the species was formally described. The type specimen was collected from a private collection in Hanoi, Vietnam by G. Orel, A. S. Curry, A. Luc, and G. Richards on the 3 April 2001.白抱茎山茶 Camellia lucii Orel & Curry. (n.d.). International Camellia Register. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://camellia.iflora.cn/Species/Detail?latin=Camellia%20lucii Etymology The species epithet is named for André Luc, an expert in Camellia.
Distribution and habitat It is endemic to Vietnam.
Conservation Camellia lucii is extinct in the wildWhitewhead, M. (2022–2023). Hunting for exotic treasure: with Australia’s trove of rare camellias under threat, efforts are underway to create a haven on the slopes of mount tomah. p. 22. The Gardens Magazine, 135. and only persists in cultivation. It is cultivated in three ex situ conservation collections in botanic gardens,Camellia lucii Orel & Curry. (n.d.-b). BGCI PlantSearch. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://plantsearch.bgci.org/taxon/189401 such as in the Arboretum Het LeenDetails van Camellia lucii Orel & Curry. (n.d.). Arboretum Het Leen. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://arboretum.oost-vlaanderen.be/index.cfm?action=search.details&id=12235&kind=plant and in the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.Dunlop, H. (2024, April 24). A Carnival of Camellias: Beauty and Biodiversity at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. Blackheath Area Local News. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://blackheathnews.com/camellias-at-blue-mountains-botanical-garden/Tsubaki Yama: Camellia Mountain: Discover an internationally significant collection of camellias in a Japanese-inspired landscape. (n.d.). Botanic Gardens of Sydney. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/blue-mountains-botanic-garden-mount-tomah/garden-highlights/tsubaki-yama-camellia-mountain
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