Abstract: In this paper, 129 leaf samples from 35 species and one variety of the Chinese Epimedium (Berberi-daceae), most of which were placed under subgen. Epimedium and sect. Diphyllon, were analyzed by HPLC method. The HPLC chromatogram profiles of all the samples for icariin and similar compounds were achieved, sorted and analyzed. According to the second peak group (named as “ABCI” peak group) characters, chroma-tograms were divided into four main types and nine subtypes. By correlation analysis with flower morphology, II-3 was suggested to be the most primitive type; II-1, IV and I-3 were primitive and closely related to II-3; I-1 was basic type; I-2, I-4, III and II-2 were derived types. The HPLC chromatogram type division corresponds to W. T. Stearn’s classification on sect. Diphyllon with four series in 2002.

Key words: Epimedium, flavonoids, HPLC chromatogram, chemotaxonomy