Abstract: Seven species of Glycyrrhiza in China are karyologically analyzed in this paper. The results are as follows: G. uralensis Fisch. 2n=16=6m+10sm; G. eurycarpa P.C. Li 2n=16=8m+6sm+2st; G. glabra L. 2n=16=14m+2sm; G. inflata Bat. 2n=16=6m+10 sm; G. aspera Pall. 2n=16=12m+4sm; G. yunnanensis Cheng f. et L. K. Tai ex P. C. Li 2n =16=12m+4sm; G. pallidiflora Maxim. 2n=16=12m+4sm. From this work and the previous reports, it is presumed that the basic chromosome number of Glycyrrhiza is x=8. Based on the characters of karyotype so far realed, the authors consider that the genus Glycyrrhiza is a relatively primitive group in Leguminosae and G. pallidiflora is the most primitive one among the species dealt with in this paper, and G. eurycar-pa is the most advanced one.

Key words: China, Glycyrrhiza, Karyotype