A method for quickly distinguishing between *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* in the wild

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of rapid differentiation of camphor trees in the field, specifically a method for rapidly differentiating *Cinnamomum camphora* and *Cinnamomum cassia* in the field, comprising the following steps: S1, collecting mature leaves from the tips of branches of the tree species to be tested that are 6 months to 1 year old; S2, placing the leaves under continuous pressure and baking them with a heating pack at 150-200℃ for 5-30 minutes; S3, if the baked leaves are generally flat and smooth, with only slight wavy changes at the leaf edges, and the inner surface and lateral veins are not raised, then the tree species to be tested is identified as *Cinnamomum camphora*; if the baked leaves have a large number of raised areas on the overall leaf surface, and the lateral veins are prominently raised, then the tree species to be tested is identified as *Cinnamomum cassia*. The method provided by this invention can rapidly differentiate between the easily confused *Cinnamomum camphora* and *Cinnamomum cassia* in the field, improving the accuracy and efficiency of field surveys; the materials used in this invention are inexpensive, readily available, reusable, have low input costs, are simple to operate, quick to complete, and highly operable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of rapid differentiation of camphor trees in the field, specifically a method for rapidly differentiating camphor trees from *Camphora chinensis* and *Camphora sinensis* in the field. Background Technology

[0002] *Cinnamomum chago* BS. Sun & H.L. Zhao is a tall evergreen tree belonging to the genus *Cinnamomum* in the family Lauraceae. This species was published as a new species in 1991 by Chinese botanists Sun Bixing and Zhao Huilan. *Cinnamomum huarum* Y. Chai & Yuan Y. Li is also a tall evergreen tree belonging to the genus *Cinnamomum* in the family Lauraceae, and was published as a new species in 2024 by Li Yuanyuan et al. Both *Cinnamomum chago* and *Cinnamomum huarum* are distributed in western Yunnan Province, with some overlap in their distribution areas. Morphologically, they share a high degree of similarity in leaf arrangement, shape, size, and odor, making them difficult to distinguish in the wild. Studies have shown that the main difference lies in the shape of their fruits: *Cinnamomum chago* fruits are ovoid with a pointed tip, while *Cinnamomum huarum* fruits are flattened-globose with a flattened or slightly concave tip. However, both rarely bear fruit in the wild, making it difficult to differentiate them based on fruit morphology.

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a method for quickly distinguishing between *Cinnamomum camphora* and *Cinnamomum cassia* in the field, which can help in the field investigation and monitoring of the rare and endangered wild plant *Cinnamomum camphora*. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a method for quickly distinguishing between *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* in the field.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a method for rapidly distinguishing between *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* in the field, comprising the following steps:

[0006] S1. Collect mature leaves from the tips of branches of the tree species to be tested, which are six months to one year old;

[0007] S2. Press the blade flat and bake it at 150-200°C for 5-30 minutes, preferably 15-20 minutes, using a heating pack.

[0008] The purpose of flattening is to ensure that both sides of the blade are in full contact with the housing, thereby improving the efficiency of heat treatment. Flattened blades show a more intuitive change in surface appearance after baking.

[0009] S3. If the leaves are flat and smooth after baking, with only a few small wavy changes at the leaf edges, and the inner surface and lateral veins are not raised, then the tree species to be tested is tea-fruit camphor; if the leaves have a large number of raised areas on the entire surface after baking, and the lateral veins are clearly raised, then the tree species to be tested is Chinese camphor.

[0010] Furthermore, in step S3, the leaf surface having a large number of protrusions specifically means that the number of protrusions is greater than 30; the lateral veins being prominent specifically means that the lateral veins account for more than 70% of the total protrusions.

[0011] Furthermore, in step S2, the heating pack is a food heating pack.

[0012] Furthermore, in step S2, when the blade is continuously flattened and baked at 150-200℃ for 15-20 minutes using a heating pack, the equipment structure used includes a box body. The top surface of the box body is a detachably connected sealing cover platform. The sealing cover platform is provided with a pressing cover for continuously flattening the blade. The pressing cover is provided with a vent hole. The heating pack is placed inside the box body, and the side of the box body is provided with a vent hole.

[0013] Furthermore, in step S2, sealing strips are provided on the four sides of the top surface of the sealing cover platform, and the sealing cover platform is placed on the sealing strips.

[0014] Furthermore, in step S2, one side of the top surface of the box is hinged to one end of the pressing cover, and a buckle is provided at the opposite end of the pressing cover and the opposite position of the box. The pressing cover and the sealing cover platform continuously press the blade flat by connecting the buckle.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: the method provided by this invention can quickly distinguish between the easily confused camphor trees (Camphora chinensis and Cinnamomum camphora) in the field, improving the accuracy and efficiency of field surveys; the materials used in this invention are inexpensive, readily available, reusable, have low input costs, are simple to operate, take little time, and are highly operable. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 The blade flattening and drying box provided by the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 The blades are those baked in the blade flattening and drying oven according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0018] In the diagram, 1-box body; 2-heating pack; 3-blade; 4-sealing cover platform; 5-sealing strip; 6-vent hole; 7-pressing cover; 8-buckle; 9-vent hole. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the following description.

[0020] Example 1

[0021] See Figure 1This invention provides a leaf flattening and drying box, which can be used for drying the leaves of *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* in the field, facilitating rapid differentiation between the two species. The equipment structure includes a box body 1, with a detachably connected sealing cover platform 4 on the top surface of the box body 1. A pressing cover 7 is provided on the sealing cover platform 4 for continuously flattening the leaves. The pressing cover 7 has ventilation holes 6. A heating pack 2 is placed inside the box body 1. A steam hole 9 is provided on the back side of the box body, and a 1mm vent hole 9 is provided on the side of the box body 1 for discharging the hot steam generated by the heating pack 2.

[0022] Preferably, the top surface of the sealing cover platform 4 is provided with sealing strips 5 on all four sides, and the sealing cover platform 4 is placed on the sealing strips 5, thereby making the sealing cover platform 4 detachable.

[0023] Preferably, one side of the top surface of the housing 1 is hinged to one end of the pressing cover 7, and a buckle 8 is provided at the opposite end of the pressing cover 7 and the opposite position of the housing 1. The pressing cover 7 and the sealing cover platform 4 continuously press the blade flat by connecting the buckle 8.

[0024] Preferably, the box body 1 is made of metal and has dimensions of 25×20×15cm (length×width×height). Two to three food-grade heating packs are placed inside the box to provide heat.

[0025] The specific operating steps for flattening and drying leaves using a leaf flattening and drying oven are as follows: Open the oven lid (platform and pressing cover), place 2-3 food-grade heating packs at the bottom of the oven, add cold water according to the requirements for using the heating packs, close the platform lid, place 3-5 leaves collected in the field flat on the sealed platform 4, fasten the buckle 8 on the pressing cover 7 to the buckle 8 on the oven body 1, and bake for 15-20 minutes after the heating packs release heat, then remove the leaves for later use.

[0026] Example 2

[0027] This invention provides a method for rapidly distinguishing between *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* in the field, comprising the following steps:

[0028] Step 1: Leaf collection; Collect 3-5 mature leaves from the tips of branches of trees that are 6 months to 1 year old and need to be identified in the wild, store them in a resealable bag, and mark the collection location for later use.

[0029] Step 2: Blade pressing and baking treatment; The blade to be tested is pressed and baked using a blade flattening and drying box provided in Example 1.

[0030] Step 3: Determining the shape of the roasted leaves. See also Figure 2If the leaves are flat and smooth after baking, with only a few small wavy changes at the leaf edges, and the inside of the leaf surface and the veins are not raised, then the tree species to be tested is identified as *Camellia sinensis*. If the leaves have a large number of raised areas on the surface after baking, and the lateral veins are locally raised, then the tree species to be tested is identified as *Camellia sinensis*.

[0031] The leaf surface has a large number of protrusions, specifically: the number of protrusions is greater than 30; the lateral veins are prominent, specifically: the lateral veins account for more than 70% of the total protrusions.

[0032] Experimental Example

[0033] A total of 64 plants of both species were collected from the wild, including 35 plants of *Camellia sinensis* with 350 leaves (175 of which were old leaves) and 29 plants of *Camellia chinensis* with 290 leaves (145 of which were old leaves). The leaves were roasted using the equipment and methods provided in Examples 1 and 2, and the experimental results are shown in the table below:

[0034] Table 1. Statistical table of the number of leaf bulges on the tips of 6-month to 1-year-old branches of *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* after baking.

[0035]

[0036] Table 2. Statistical table of the number of leaf bulges on mature leaves (more than one year old) of *Camellia sinensis* and *Camellia chinensis* after baking.

[0037]

[0038] As shown in the table above, when using leaves from the tips of branches aged six months to one year, the number of protrusions on the leaf surface of *Cinnamomum camphora* after baking using this method exceeds 30, especially the number of lateral vein protrusions, which accounts for 77.8% of the total number of protrusions, accurately distinguishing it from *Cinnamomum camphora*. However, when using mature leaves older than one year, the number of protrusions on the leaf surface of *Cinnamomum camphora* is significantly reduced, averaging only 1.6 protrusions per leaf, with 53.1% of leaves having zero protrusions, and the proportion of lateral vein protrusions decreasing to 21.6%. The number of protrusions is far less than 30, making it impossible to distinguish between the two tree species.

[0039] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or related technologies or knowledge. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for distinguishing Cinnamomum tamala and C. burmanii in the field rapidly, characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: S1, collecting mature leaves at the top of half-year to one-year old branches of the tree species to be tested; S2, continuously flattening the leaves and baking them at a temperature of 150-200 DEG C for 5-30 minutes using a heating bag; S3, if the baked leaves are overall smooth with only a small amount of undulating changes at the edges of the leaves, and the inside of the leaves and the lateral veins are not raised, it is determined that the tree species to be tested is Cinnamomum subavenium; if the baked leaves have a large number of raised areas on the leaf surface and the lateral veins are significantly raised, it is determined that the tree species to be tested is Cinnamomum camphora; In step S3, the large number of raised areas on the leaf surface specifically refers to more than 30 raised areas; and the lateral veins being significantly raised specifically refers to the raised lateral veins accounting for more than 70% of the total raised areas.

2. The method for distinguishing Cinnamomum tamala and C. burmanii in the field according to claim 1, wherein, In step S2, the heating bag is a food heating bag.

3. The method for distinguishing Cinnamomum tamala and C. burmanii in the field according to claim 1, wherein, In step S2, when the leaves are continuously flattened and baked at a temperature of 150-200 DEG C for 15-20 minutes using the heating bag, the equipment structure comprises a box (1), the top surface of the box (1) is a detachably connected sealing cover loading table (4), the sealing cover loading table (4) is provided with a tablet pressing cover (7) for continuously flattening the leaves, the tablet pressing cover (7) is provided with air vents (6), the heating bag (2) is placed in the box (1), and the side surface of the box (1) is provided with a gas vent (9).

4. The method for distinguishing Cinnamomum tamala and C. burmanii in the field according to claim 3, wherein, In step S2, the top surface of the sealing cover loading table (4) is provided with sealing rubber strips (5) on four sides, and the sealing cover loading table (4) is placed on the sealing rubber strips (5).

5. The method for distinguishing Cinnamomum tamala and C. burmanii in the field according to claim 3, wherein, In step S2, one side edge of the top surface of the box (1) is hingedly connected to one end of the tablet pressing cover (7), the opposite end of the tablet pressing cover (7) and the opposite position of the box (1) are provided with buckles (8), and the tablet pressing cover (7) and the sealing cover loading table (4) continuously flatten the leaves by connecting the buckles (8).

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