Abstract: Comparative investigation on the inner surfaces of needle cuticle of Pinus was made for 17 species and two varieties under SEM. It is shown that the differences in protrusions and depressions of the internal cuticle surfaces of needles in the genus are not remarkable. However, the features of intercellular flanges are rather distinct and three types can be distinguished. They are: (1) Subgen. Strobus (Sweet) Rehd (except Sect. Parrya) is of the Pinus koraiensis type; (2) Subgen. Pinus is of the P. tabulaeformis type; (3) Sect. Parrya Mayr of Subgen. Strobus (Sweet) Rehd is of the P. bungeana type. The character may provide taxonomy of the genus Pinus with a new piece of evidence. Based on the features mentioned above, together with many others, such as wood anatomy, warts of wood tracheids, bark structure, needle anatomy and cuticle structure as well as karyotypic analysis in Pinus, the author considers that division of Pinus into two subgeuera is natural and that separation of Sect. Parrya Mayr from Subgen. Strobus (Sweet) Rehd. and thesubsequent establishment of the subgenus Parrya of its own are also reasonable.

Key words: Pinus, Needle cuticle