Abstract: In the present paper, karyological studies were carried out in two species and one variety of Ranunculus L.from China. Their chromosome numbers and karyotypes are all reported here for the first time. Ranunculus japonicus Thunb. var. ternatifolius L.Liao shows two different karyotypes i.e. common-type 2n = 2x= 14= 6m+4sm+4st(2SAT) and heterozygous type 2n = 2x= 14= 6m+4sm+4st(1SAT). The former karyotype characteristic is that the satellite is larger. The latter karyotype variations are the occurrence of heteromorphous homologous chromosomes of second pair and the sixth pair SAT chromosome posses only one satellite; Ranunculus dopsus DC. karyotype formula is 2n = 4x = 32 = 10m+8sm+12st(2SAT)+2t(2SAT). It consists of two different genomes. One of them is that the satellite is far larger than the short arm. The other is that the satellite is smaller than the short arm, Ranunculus silerifolius Levl. karyotype formula is 2n = 4x = 32 = 8m+6sm+18st(4SAT). It consists of four chromosome sets which is basicly similar in karyotype.

Key words: Ranunculus japonicus var. ternatfiolius