Abstract: The photosynthetic characteristics of Cyanotis arachnoidea Clarke was studied through shading experimentation in pot culture. The effect of different shade level on the photosynthetic rate, the characteristics of photosynthetic organs and the bio-production of C. arachnoidea were compared. The main results are as follows: 1. C. arachnoidea was a C3 type solaphilic and shade tolerant herb. Its light saturation point was about 650 μmol · m-2 · s-1 and the light compensation point was about 17 μmol · m-2 · s-1. Its CO2 compensation point was about 130× 10-6. 2. The maximum net photosynthetic rate of C. arachnoidea was about 12.45 μmol · m-2 · s-1. The diurnal variation regularity of its photosynthetic rates exhibited a double peak curve in which the main peak appeared during 11: 00～12: 00, and the second around 15: 00. 3. 20%～50% shading favored the growth of C. arachnoidea. In comparison with those with control treatment, the content of chlorophyll b with 20%～50% of shading treatment increased by 47 %～83%, and the photosynthetic production increased by 12 %～18 % as a result of increase in the net photosynthetic rate (relative photosynthetic rate).

Key words: Cyanotis arachnoidea, Photosynthetic characteristics, Shade effect