Abstract: The genera Populus and Chosenia were used as different outgroups, respectively, to construct two cladograms for multistaminal willows in China. The results showed that Chosenia, S. maximowiczii and Sect. Tetraspermae were primitive taxa. It was supported to erect the genus Toisusu Kimura. According to the cladograms and the chromosome mumbers, multistaminal willows could be divided into five cladistic groups. It was in agreement with Prof. Fang's view that multistaminal willows had a division of the "southern type" and the "northern type" and had an evolutionary trend from south to north in Eastasia especially for Sect. Wilsonianae endemic to China. The differentiation of Sect.Salix and Sect. Subalbae was accepted.

Key words: Multistaminal willows, outgroups, cladistic relationships