This paper presenta a brief introduction to the taxonomy and geographic distribu-

tion of the genus Wendlandia.

      The genus Wendlandia in tribe Rondeletieae of the family Rubiaceae was proposed by Bartling in 1830. There are now more than ninety species throughout the world. It is distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical Asia. Thirty species, ten subspecies and three varieties are recorded in the paper. Among these, nine species, two subspecies and one variety are new. They are distributed mainly in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Xizang and Taiwan Provinces. Only one species, namely W. longidens (Hance) Hutch. Extends northward to Hubei and Sichuan.

      The classification of the genus in this paper is based on Cowan's system. It is divided into four series mainly by their stigmatic and staminal characters, namely Euexsertae, Subinclusae, Montigenae and Clavigerae. The first two series are each subdivided according to the stipule feature into two subseries, designated as Cuspidatae, Orbiculares, Tinctoriae and Paniculatae.

      From the distribution patterns of the genus in the flora of China, we may understand:

      1.  The genus has the most species in China, where is its distribution centre, and Yurnan is the province richest in species of the genus.

      2.  There are twenty-one species, five subspecies and three varieties endemic to China. Most of these endemics have their distributional area confined to a single province, and some of them are confined to an even narrower district, with only a few of them extending beyond province boundaries.

      3.  The series Subinclusae Cowan has the most species not only in China but also in other regions of the world, whereas the series Montigenae Cowan has fewer species and they are all restricted to China.

      The new species, new subspecies and the new varieties described in this paper are as follows: W. brevipaniculata W. C. Chen, W..villosa W. C. Chen, W. tinctoria  (Roxb.)

DC. subsp. affinis How, W. laxa S. K. Wu, W. uvariifolia Hance subsp. pilosa W. C. Chen,

W. guangdongensis W. C. Chen, W. parviflora W. C. Chen, W. scabra Kurz var. pilitera

How, W. pubigera W. C. Chen, W. jingdongensis W. C. Chen, W. brevituba Chun et How