Abstract: Thirty-eight collections of Chinese orchids in Yunnan Province, China, including 14 species and 3 varieties, were analyzed phylogenetically using AFLP technique. PCR amplification band pattern with 16 pairs of primers indicated that the Chinese orchids were very diverse, and individuals of the same species had different band patterns. Subgenus Jensoa appeared as a paraphyletic group. Subgenus Cyperorch is was not a monophyletic group instead formed an offshoot of subgenus Jensoa. At a similarity coefficient of 0.58, the orchids could be clustered into 3 groups: Cybidium tortisepalum Wu et Chen, C. tortisepalum var. longibracteatum, C. faberi and C. kancan belonged to Group 1; C. ensifolium, C. goeringii var. serratum, C.goeringii, C. sinense, C. hookerianum, C. tracyanum, C. mastersii, C. lowianum, C. wenshanense,C. erythraeum and C. lancifolium to Group 2; C. cyperifolium var. szechuanicum and C. pumilum to Group 3.

Key words: Cybidium, AFLP, Genetic diversity, Phylogenetic relationship