Abstract:

The genus Ophiopogon is usually referred to the tribe Ophiopogoneae of Convallariaceae. In the world, there are 62 species which mostly distribute in the tropical, subtropical regions of East and South Asia. Among them, 47 species occurring in China. On the basis of discussing the morphological characteristics of this genus, we have made an all-round analysis of various organs, and found the following characters to be useful in distin-guishing the taxa of Ophiopogoneae are: 1. the development of the inflorscence, and the length of stem; on the long stem with basal and cauline leaves, raceme always develops near the super leaves. While the stemless species form the scapes and racemes from the basal leaves. 2. the shapes of the leaves, from the elliptical, oblong foliage with petiole to the linear, sessile foliage.

Key words: Ophiopogon, Taxonmic system