Abstract: Rhus verniciflua Stokes is an economic tree endemic to China. In 1985, we discovered a natural triploid cultivar in the rich cultivar resources of Lacquer trees from Shaanxi province for the first time. The karyotypes of diploid and triploid lacquer trees are reported in this paper. They are K=2n=2x=30=14m+12sm+2st+2t; K=2n=3x=45=24m+15sm+3st+3t. 3t. By comparing the two karyotypes and studying chromosome pairing of the meiosis, it is proved that this triploid lacquer tree is a autotriploid.

Key words: Rhus verniciflua, Triploid, Karyotype, Meiosis