This study was carried out to investigate growth characteristics, and the contents of mineral element, Tannin, Caffeine and Vitamin C of leaves of 16 wild and cultivated varieties in southernt part of Korea. Results of this investigation are summarized as follows. The most of the wild tea plants were in bamboo thicket or in forest, and the leaf types of tea plants were elliptical or oblong. The leaf sizes of tea plants were 8.2± 1.8× 3.8± 0.8cm, lateral vein number 5.7, crenated number 60.7, and the leaf colors of tea plants were thin green or dark green. The content of total-nitrogen in the culture varieties was 1% lower, but those of P, K, Ca, Mg were higher than wild varieties, The content of Tannin at Naju-Shi was the highest as 15.05%, and that of Hampyong-gun was the lowest as 11.25%. The average content was 14%. The content of caffeine in the wild varieties was a few higher and that of the average was 2.4%. The content of Vitamin C at Kangjin-gun was the highest as 245.8mg% and that of Yangsan-gun was the lowest as 152.9mg%.
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