Abstract: The comparative anatomy of the leaves of 12 species in Lycoris was studied. The results are as follows: ( 1) The shape of these foliar transection in Lycoris is basically shallow“W”or“V”nd there are many spiny papillae on epidermal cells of some species; (2) All these species possess dorsi-ventral leaves. The mesophyll is differentiated into the palisade parenchyma and the spongy parenchyma, many differences between both of them, such as the thickness of the palisade parenchyma and the spongy parenchyma, the proportion of them and even the cell layers of palisade parenchyma, are occured among species; (3) The spongy parenchyma is developed and possesses abundant big parenchymatous cells or hollow cavities ( secretory canals or air cavities); (4) The number of the vascular bundle is usually odd, and the vascular bundle sheath is composed of parenchyma cells; (5) The shape of leaf margin in transverse section can be divided into arcuate
and cuneate. Many characters of foliar anatomy have a lot in common in the genus Lycoris, but there are some differences among species, which can provide valuable information for studies on interspecific relationship and further utilization.

Key words: Lycoris