Abstract: On the basis of biosynthsis, distribution of diterpenoid alkaloids as well as morphological evolution of Chinese species L. (Ranunculaceae), chemotaxonomy of the genus Aconitum is discussed: 1, Subgen. Lycoctonum, containing lycoctonine-type alkaloids and Subgen. Aconitum containing aconitine-type alkaloids, were probably differetiated at the early stage of evolution of the genus Aconitum and evolved respectively in their own ways. 2, In Subgen. Aconitum: (1) Ser. Bullatifolia, containing mainly atisine-, veatchine-type alkaloids, and amino, alcohol and ester base of aconitine-type, and distributed in Hengduan Mountain and Jingsha River valley, where is the centre of modern differentiation of species of Aconitum, is probably a series from which Chinese species of the genus Aconitum were derived; (2) Ser. Inflata, containing mainly aconitine, mesaconitine and bypaconitine, is an advanced group; (3) Ser. Grsndituberosa, containing mainly aconitine and songorine, is related to Ser. Bulatifolia; (4) Ser. stylosa and Ser. volubilia, containing mainly yunaconitine and other anisyl ester alkaloids form another advanced branch. 3, Ser. Tangutica and A. naviculare of Ser. Rotaundifolia, containing atisine and lactone-type alkaloids may be a specialized group in high mountains and have occurred at early stage of evolution of the genus Aconitum. 4, Subgen. Gymnaconitum, containing atisine-type alkaloids and amino alcohol of aconitine type, may als be a specialized group in high mountains. 5, A. franchetii Finet. et Gagnep. mainly containing ester bases of aconitine-typeand closed to A. chasmanthum Stapf, is best placed into Ser. Ambigua.

Key words: Ranunculaceae, Aconitum, diterpenoid alkaloids, chemotaxonomy