Abstract: Sixty-five leaf samples in sect. Oleifera H. T. Chang, sect. Paracamellia Sealy, sect. Camellia, and sect. Thea (L.) Dyer of genus Camellia L. were discriminated directly with an OMNI-sampler accessory on the basis of biochemical profiles and a hierarchical dendrogram was finally constructed. The results showed that the infrared spectra of Camellia were fingerprint-like patterns which were highly typical for different taxa. The hierarchical dendrogram based on principal component analysis of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) data confirmed most of morphological classifications of the four sections proposed in previous works. Infrared spectra of leaves are of taxonomic value in genus Camellia, and this technique can be widely used for identification and classification of other taxa when standard spectra are available. The relationships between sect. Oleifera and sect. Paracamellia, subsect. Lucidissima H. T. Chang and subsect. Reticulata H. T. Chang in sect. Camellia, and the species/varieties were also discussed, as many dissensions about the classification exist between Chang’s and Ming’s system.

Key words: Camellia, cluster analysis, infrared spectra, taxonomic significance