Abstract: The chromosome number of 10 species and karyotypes of 9 species of them in the genus Caragana from China were analyzed in this paper, and the results are as follows: C. roborovskyi, 2n＝16＝10m(2SAT)+6sm; C. erinacea, 2n=16=10m+6sm; C. densa, 2n=16=10m（2SAT）+6sm; C. acanthophylla, 2n=16=12m+4sm; C. stipitata, 2n=16=10m+6sm; C. opulens, 2n=16=12m(2SAT)+4sm; C. leucophloea, 2n=32=22m(4SAT)+10sm; C. camilli-schneideri, 2n=32=20m(4SAT)+12sm, C. tragacanthoides, 2n=32=20m(2SAT)+10sm+2st+2B. For two populations of C. licentiana, only chromosome numbers are reported here, both with 2n=4x=32, being tetraploid. From the results we inclined to suppose that the karyotype of chromosomes in Caragana is not so much differentiated, and if differentiated it always follows by some morphological characters. The diploid and tetraploid are the main ploidy level of this genus, with 2n=16 (diploid) or 2n=32(tetraploid). Triploid was found only in C. sinica, and hexaploid was seen only in C. ussuriensis. Those species with diploid chromosomes mostly are pinnate-leaved, and are mainly distributed in Estern Asia where probably is the genus’ ancestral areal, but those species with tetraploid chromosomes are majorly with digitate leaflets, and incline to adapt to desert areas in Northwestern China.

Key words: Caragana, chromosome number, karyotype