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The Theaceae is a family of flowering plants, composed of shrubs and trees recognizable by their serrated, usually glossy leaves. The Theaceae is part of order Ericales, in the branch of the dicots known as the Asterids. Some botanists include the Theaceae within the family Ternstroemiaceae, or vice-versa.
The best known genus is Camellia, which includes the plant whose leaves are used to produce tea (Camellia sinensis), as well as the several species grown widely for their flowers and handsome foliage.
Most of the genera are native to Malesia and Southeast Asia, with several genera in South America and Central America; two genera (Franklinia and Gordonia) also have species native to the southeastern United States, with Franklinia being endemic there.
Most of the genera have evergreen foliage, but Stuartia and Franklinia are deciduous.
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