Abstract: The outer and inner layers of leaf cuticle of all Chinese endemic genera in Magnoliaceae. Tsoongiodendron Chun. (monotypic genus), Manglietiastrum Law. (monotypic genus) and Parakmeria Hu et Cheng. were investigated under light and scanning electron microscopy. The cells of upper epidermis had irregular forms with curved walls. The characters of lower epidemal cells were similar to those of upper ones but possessed lots of stomatal apparatus scattered among them. Stomatal apparatus were paracytic and irregularly orientated. The slightly elevated guard cells situated at an angle a little above the subsidiary cells on the lower epidermal surface. These characters of the three genera were similar to those of other genera (except Liriodendron Law. ) in Magnoliaceae. These facts support that all genera (except Liriodendron Law. ) in Magnoliaceae were similar in morphological features and belonged to a same natural group. Meanwhile there was a clear line of demarcation among these three genera in the epidermal features such as the degree of curved walls of epidermal cells, the fine structure of stamota apparatus and hairs. Their specialized level on epidermal characters paralleled with their taxonomic positions in Magnoliaceae proposed by Professor Liu Yu-hwu. On the other hand, the two species of Paragmeria were much similar in their epidermal features visualized under light microscope. However, the results by scanning electron microscopy showed that wax ornamentation on the outer surface of the two species was clearly different and seemed to be one of the distinguished features between two species.

Key words: Magnoliaceae, Cuticle