Abstract: The components of essential oil in leaves of seven species in Calycanthaceae were analysed by gas chromatography. As a result, nine components were detected and both components and contents vary among species. Based on all the data, Calycanthus was found containing components mostly with more complex structures while those in Chimonanthus, on the contrary, are mostly simple. It indicates that Calycanthus is more primitive than Chmonanthus in phylogeny.

Key words: Calycanthaceae, essential oil components, Chemotaxonomy