Abstract: Micromorphological Characters of leaf epidermis of 12 species of Neottianthe Schltr.in China were examied by LW and SEM.It is found that the cells of both upper and lower epidermis are tetragonal,Pentagonal and hexagonal,anticlinal walls are stralght and arched;upper and lower epidermis are covered with cuticular membrance;stomatal apparatuses occur only on the lower surface and have just two guard cells without any accessory cells,there are "T"rod - like pieces at the polar region fo guard cells;outer stomatal ledge (or rim)are all unilayered .These characters are generally stable at genus level. Therefore the present anthors tend ot agree with Lang's (1997)view which 12 species combined Neottianthe.But it shows greatly diversity under LM and SEM that the size of epidermal cells, the inner mrgin of outer stomatal ledge and the cuticular ornamentaion.Besides,the anticlinal walls of eridermal cells in some spesies are significant pro-trusion.These dfferent micromorphological characters of leaf epidermis are usefull to identify some species in the genus Neottianthe .

Key words: Neottianthe, Leaf epidermis, Micromorphology