Abstract: Thirty-six seed samples represented 34 population of 27 taxa of Schisandra are measured in three dimentions. One new concept of“relative volume”was adopted here. 34 photographs of the seeds are selected for discussing seed feature and taxonomic significance of Schisandra. The seed surface of Schisandra may be divided into four types: (1) smooth or subsmooth; (2) obviously rugose or sparsely or densely tuberculate; (3) with dense papillae; (4) with irregular nodular rope-like protuberance, like cerebrumof the mammal . The comparative analysis of entire features from the seeds and androecium
demonstrated that a highly relative variability between seed morpha and androecium feature existed in sect. Maximowiczia, Schisandra and Sphaerostema respectively except sect. Pleiostema with a smaller degree of the relative variability. The taxonomic revisions on Schisandra contributed by Lin Qi (2000) and Saunders (2000) are not supported by the comprehensive investigation for the morpha, relative volume, colour and surface sculpture of the seed in the present paper. Dividing sect. Sphaerostema into two subgenera by Law yu-wu is not supported by the evidences from the seeds also.

Key words: Schisandra