I. kəˈmēlyə, -lēə also -el- noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Georg Josef Kamel (Georgius Josephus Camellus ) died 1706 Moravian Jesuit missionary + New Latin -ia
1. capitalized : a genus of tropical Asiatic evergreen shrubs or small trees (family Theaceae) having alternate elliptic short-petioled leaves and solitary usually reddish or white flowers with stamens that are connate at the base
2. also ca·me·lia -ēl- -s : any of several shrubs or trees of the genus Camellia ; especially : any ornamental greenhouse shrub ( C. japonica ) with glossy evergreen leaves and showy roselike flowers
3. -s : a moderate to strong red that is bluer and lighter than blood red
II.
Etymology: New Latin
synonym of thea