Abstract: The present study deals with external morphology, chromosome number, pollen morphology and seed anatomy of three species of Brassica in China. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Brassica xinjiangensis is described as a new species based on the chromosome number n=9, and 3-4-colpate and reticulate pollen grains. In the transverse section of seed, epidermal cells are triangular, semiterete or irregular, subepidermal cells consist of one series, palisade cells terete and equal in length. Leaves are petiolate or not; stems, sepals, pistils and siliquae are usually covered with retrorse-pilose hairs; rostrum stout, 12 mm long. By the above characters this species differs from others in this genus. 2. Relationship between B. nigra and B. xinjiangensis. In the former all leaves are petiolate, and the lower part of stems and leaves usually bristly; sepals, pistils and siliquae are glabrous; pedicels are erect and appressed to the axis of infructescence; rostrum is gracile, 2.5 mm long. The chromosome number is n=8. Pollen grains are 3-colpate; the exine is cerebroid-reticulate under SEM. In the transverse section of seeds, epidermal cells are undulate, subepidermal cells in 1-2 series, palisade cells terete, short and unequal in length. These characteristics are the same as reported by Koch (1833), Darlington and Wylie (1955), Goldblatt (1981), Vaughan et al. (1971), Lan (1986). 3. Taxonomical position of B. celerifolia. It was treated as B. juncea var. celerifolia by Tsen et Lee (1942). According to the chromosome number n=10, 3-4-colporate pollen grains, it deserves specific rank. This species differs from B. juncea, which has the chromo-some number n=18 and 3-4-colpate pollen grains.

Key words: Brassica, B. xinjiangensis, B. nigra, B. celerifolia