Abstract: This paper is an attempt to discuss the relationship and phylogeny within the genus Lindera, based upon on analysis of shortened brachlets, on which the inflorescences are inserted, and other morphological characters. The shortened branchlets are metamorphic shoots which are often at the transitional stage between branchles and inflorescences. The advanced shortened branchlets usually with an undeveloped terminal bud, posses scale-like leaves, and the inflorescences so formed are sessile and aggregate. In primitive taxa, such as Lindera nacusua (Don) Merr., L. gracilipes H. W. Li and L. tanchuanensis Feng et H. S. Kung, the branchlet is usually not shortened, with well-developed terminal bud, forming a single axillary pseudo-umbel, while its peducle is usually very slender and stamens of pistillate flower sometimes more or less developed. The leaves on the upper part of branchlet are normal and the lower part of branchlet becoming bracteal, In the genus the development of shortened branchlets (Fig. 1.) from the ones in the primitive taxa to the ones in the advanced taxa may be found. Other important morphological characters are the length of peducles. The peduncle is usually slender in the primitive taxa, short or even sessile in the adanced taxa. There are two types of venation in the genus: the pinnate and trinerved. As the primitive group trib. Perseeae Mez shows pinnate veins, pinnate ventation in Lindera is more primitive than trinerved one. It might be possible that a transition occure in the genus from evergereen habit to deciduous one as shown in Lindera glauca B1., L. angustifolia Cheng and L. praecox B1., whose leaves tardily wither but persistent over winter. The relationships within Lindera are shown in a hypothetical genealogical tree (Fig. 4), which includes the system of Litsea, developed parallelly with Lindera. From the study of morphological characters, the author infers that both Lindera and Litsea have originated from a common ancestory related to the tribe Cinnamomeae Baill. which has a single axillary inflorescence, with hermaphrodite flowers, 4-locular anthers and penninerved to trinerved leaves.

Key words: Lindera, system