Abstract:

  The tuberous root of Hemsleya, namely “jin-gui-lian”, is commonly used as a

traditional Chinese medicine.  In recent years, it is chiefly used for curing flatulence,diarrhea, dysentery, cardialgia, bronchitis, uteritis with a satisfactory effect.

      In order to make sure of its medical effect and explore its abundant resources,

we have made a survey of the genus Hemsleya in Sichuan Province.

      The genus is mainly distributed in the southern and southwestern parts of China,

with a concentration in Sichuan Province.  According  to  our preliminary survey,

there are 9 species and 6 varieties (including 5 new species and 5 new varieties) in

Sichuan Province.

     A key to species and the descriptions for the new taxa are provided in the present

paper.