Abstract:In Huidong County, Guangdong Province, a wild population of Cinnamomum burmannii (C. G. & Th, Ness) B1 was divided into four types of chemical character resulting from qualitative and quantitative analysis of the composition of leaf essential oils. On the basis of the experiments of chromosome and isozymes, the evolutionary trend of the types of chemical characster was elucidated, viz. cymene/cineol-type→cineol-type → cineol/borneol-type → borneol-type. Furthermore, the relationship of the compounds az major constituents was in correspondence with the biosynthesis of monoterpenes.