Abstract: Among of the vast numbers of fungi, key taxa are of great importance for scientific research, economic development and ecosystem management. It is urgent and necessary to select and determinate key taxa from the species recorded from China. Based on many field investigations and analysis of literature about larger members in higher fungi from China, with reference to the selecting and determining principles and methods used for animals and plants, three types of key taxa were proposed: endangered taxa, impor-tant taxa for scientific research and important groups for economy.

Key words: Larger members in higher fungi