Members of the Theaceae are among the most widely prized of the cultivated shrubs and small trees. The genus Camellia is widely grown on the edge of their range in much of the temperate world. The plant is now known only from cultivation. Also cultivated are two other American genera, Gordonia and Stewartia . In Japan, shinto shrines are often decorated with Cleyera or skaki.
Tea also has a long history of medicial use.
3 genera and some 350 species. Tropical and subtropical regions of southeastern Asia, northern Australia, and the Americas. Saurauioideae Gilg which is sometime accepted as the family Saurauiaceae, the Actinidioideae Gilg, and the Clematoclethroideae. The first two have berries for fruits with the flowers of Saurauioideae being bisexual whereas those of Actinidioideae are dioecious or polygamous. The fruit of Clematoclethroideae is a capsule.