Abstract: The present paper deals with the karyotype analysis of Picea asperata Mast. endem-ic to China. The karyotypic formula of the species is K(2n) = 24 = 20m+4sm, which belongs to Stebbins' 2A type and the chromosome complement on relative length is 2n=24=2L+ 12M2+8Mi+2S. The karyotypes of the genus Picea (22 species and varieties) are all composed of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes (see Table 2), which with arm ratio 2 and they are primary ones. On the basis of the comparison among the karyotypes of Pinaceous genera, the author discusses the relationship and evolutionary position of Picea, and they are supported by morphology, anatomy, palynology, phytochemistry, biochemistry, palaeobotany and so on.

Key words: Picea asperata