Abstract:Gastrodia is a genus of over 20 specics, cxtending from Madagascar to tropical Asia and Oceania, and northwards to Japan, China and the Far East of Soviet Union. There are so far nine species recorded in China, five of which are generally recognized as distinct species, including the recently discovcred G.tuberculata P.Y.Liu et S. C. Chen. However, G. mairei Schltr. is reduced here to a synonym of G. elata Bl., based on an cxamination of the isotype (Maire 13) preserved in Oakcs Ames Orchid Herbarium.