Abstract: The Astilbe Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don was founded in 1912. There are now 18 species throughout the world. USSR, Thailand, Indonesia, Bhutan, Nepal d Kashanmir each has only 1 species; Korea, Philippines and USA each has 2; India 3; Japan 6; and China 7 (including 3 endemics and 1 new variety). And northeast China, north China and northwest China each has 2; central China and southwest China each 4; eastern China 5. Thus the distribution centre of this genus seems to be in the region covering Japan and eastern, central, and southwest China. This genus is divided into two sections: Sect. Simplicifoliae Engl. and Sect. Astilbe. Sect. Simplicifoliae may be considered as the primitive one because it has 5 ordinary petals. This section consists of about 10 species: 5 in China (east China 4; southwest China 3; central China, north China and northeast China each 2; Northwest China 1), 5 in Japan, 2 in Korea, 1 in Philippines and India each. According to the distribution of this section, the author suggests that the centre of origin of this genus be in the forested parts from Japonthrough east China to southwest China.

Key words: Astilbe, taxonomy, geographic distribution