Abstract: Two species of Aspidistra from Yunnan, China, were cytologically studied. The chromosome number of A. hekouensis, 2 n = 38 , is reported for the first time. The chromosome number of A. sichuanensis, also 2 n = 38, was consistent
with earlier reports, but the karyotype differs from the previous report. Furthermore, we used two numerical parameters, A1 ( intrachromosomal asymmetry index) and A2 ( interchromosomal asymmetry index), to estimate the karyotype asymmetry in 34 species of. The results showed that there is no predominant trend towards an increasing of asymmetry of the karyotype in Aspidistra .

Key words: Aspidistra