Recently, the online database of International Camellia Register (DICR) is formally open. (website: http://camellia.iflora.cn )

The DICR was developed by Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was supported by the International Camellia Society and international experts.

The database is the most comprehensive database includes all cultivars (Ornamental,Tea and Oil) in the genus Camellia throughout the world as well as those related synonyms et al. It complies with the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP).

The database has more than 45,000 names and 33,000 pictures of camellia varieties . The database Users can search the name of camellia varieties in different languages including English, Chinese and Japanese.

The database treated more than 2,300 duplicate names in Printed ICR and had solved many other problems, such as Diacritical Mark for Japanese Cultivars still in the forms of the circumflex, which had been corrected to the macron form. All this treatment will greatly promote uniformity, accuracy, and stability in the naming of cultivated camellias.

It is also an online open working platform, which could be edited most contents in the database by editors in different countries, and the database will automatically record who make changes for each entry as well as the time when make changes, to emphasis their contributions.

In addition, the database allows the Registered Users throughout the world to upload photos, and co-operate to identify photos, the system will automatically record who and when upload photos to show their contributions.

This database was financially supported by the 13th Five-year Informatization Plan of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Grant No. XXH13505-03-209.

Camellia japonica 'ō-shiratama'  (Image by WANG Zhonglang)

Camellia 'Extravaganza' (Image by WANG Zhonglang)

reticulata 'Caiyun' (Image by WANG Zhonglang)

(Editor: YANG Mei)