In preparing the manuscript of the Flora of China, the authors have studied all the spe-

cimens of the genus Potentilla collected from China for the past fifty years and also some

speciemens collected  from Europe and America. Field observations of several species had been

made in the Wild.

     In the present paper, the delimitation of the genus has been critically reviewed and a new

systematic arrangement has been proposed. Comparing the Potentilla with its related genera, we

believe that it has been kept to balance and natural within the tribe. For instance, the parts of flower are usually from indefinite to definite and reduced in number, and the receptacle is either dry or spongy, sometimes fleshy after flowering. This kind of alternation reflects the main evo-lutionary trends at generic level. In the genus Potentilla we have given the evolutionary  trends of the main organs and indicated the hierarchical structure in different groups. The analysis for the hierarchical structure, coupled with the evolutionary trends has been emphasized in orthodox: taxonomy. We have recognized this genus in a rather wide conception,  excluding the genera Fragaria and Duchesnea. The system modified by us differs from Wolf’s system in the seco-

ndary division (Sect.) based upon the form of the style and the position where the style was

inserted, but those of Wolf’s system emphasized the indumentum of the ovary.  In the linear

sequence of our system, the arrangement was also correspondentcy modified. In consideration  of

the general evolutionary trends of the groups, the last group of Wolf’s system  (Subsect. Le-

ptostylae Wolf), with the lepto-stylae laterally inserted and usually erect habit,  was transfered

as a section prior to Sect. Conostylae (Wolf’s Subsect. Conostylae). Likewise, the mostly pro-

strate herbs with the terminal nail-shaped styles (Wolf’s Subset. Gomphostylae)  as a section

(Sect. Potentilla) was placed at the end of our sytem as an advanced group.

      At the end of this paper, 12 sew species and 8 new varieties have been discribed,  with