Abstract:

The Astilbe Buch.-Ham.  ex D. Don was founded in  1912.  There are

now 18 species throughout the world. USSR, Thailand, Indonesia, Bhutan, Nepal d Kashan-

mir each has only 1 species; Korea, Philippines and USA each has 2; India 3; Japan 6; and

China 7 (including 3 endemics and 1 new variety). And northeast China, north China and

northwest China each has 2;  central China and southwest China  each 4; eastern  China 5.

Thus the distribution centre of this genus seems  to be in the region  covering Japan and

eastern, central, and southwest China.

      This genus is divided into two sections: Sect. Simplicifoliae Engl.  and Sect. Astilbe.

Sect. Simplicifoliae may be considered as the primitive one because it has 5 ordinary petals.

This section consists of about 10 species: 5 in  China (east China 4; southwest China 3; ce-

ntral China, north China and northeast China each 2; Northwest China 1), 5 in Japan, 2

in Korea, 1 in Philippines and India each. According to the distribution of this section, the

author suggests that the centre of origin of this genus be in the  forested  parts  from Japon

through east China to southwest China.

Key words: Astilbe, taxonomy, geographic distribution