Abstract: The Chinese drug Chi-li is one of the most ancient drug having been used for thou- sands of years.It is considered to be diuretic,tonic,abortifacient,galactogogue,alterative and anthelmintic.The drug is used in spermatorrhoea,anaemia,in parturition,coughs,purulent ex- pectoration and hemmorrhoides.“Sheng Nung Pen Ts'ao Ching”),which first mentioned this plant drug,gave only a very brief account,but recorded many synonyms which all indicate that certain part of the plant must be provided with very sharp spines.The famous Chinese classics“Shih Ching”( )and“Rh Ya”( )named this plant“Tsz”which literally means sprees.T'ao Hung-ching( )in his“Pen Ts'ao Ching Chi Chu”( )stated: “The plant usually grows on the paths.The leaves spread over the ground.The fruit which is provided with spines resembles the trapa(Ling )but is smaller.The plant is very common in Chang-an.People put on their wooden shoes when they walk....”In later herbals,detailed descriptions and figures of this medicinal plant were also given.These all suggest that the botanical origin of the plant drug Chi-li is Tribulus terrestris Linn.,of the family Zygophyllaceae,a common plant distributed throughout China.The sample drug recently obtained from various drug markets also confirms this opinion. In the seventh century,Chinese herbalist Tsen-chuen( )described another kind of drug called“Pai Chi-li”(or white Chi-li)( )together with Chi-li in his“Yao Sing Pen Ts'ao” ).The plant thence owed its name perhaps to its creeping habit and pinnately com- pound leaves that presented a somewhat similar appearance to Tsi-li(Tribulus terrestris Linn.). But according to Tsen-chuen's descriptions,the plant bears legumes instead of spiny cocci and the part used for medicine is the seed instead of the fruit.Su Sung( )in his“Tu Ching Pen Ts'ao”( )stated:“There is another kind of drug called Pal Chi-li( )which growes most abundantly on the pasture grounds in the district Sah-yuan( ,in the prefecture T'ung-chow( .It is also found in central China.With green leaves and delicate vines,it creeps over the sand,and flowers in July.The flowers are yellow and purple,and resemble pea- flowers but smaller.In September,it is in fruit and can be harvested.The fruit is a pod.The seeds are brownish breen,with a sweet taste and a somewhat strong smell,”In the later herbals, “Pai Chi-li”bears many other names among wtich“T'ung Chi-li”)and“Sha-yuan Chi-li”①are the commonest.At present,these two latter names are still prevailing in the drug market. The drug in seed sold recently under the name“T'ung Chi-li”or“Sha Yuan Chi-li”in the market of Shensi Province is proved to be Astragalus complanatus R.Br.,of the family Leguminosae. This medicinal plant shows much affinities with that mentioned by the herbals and is likely the genuine representative. Now-a-days,there are four kinds of drug of different botanical origin sold under the same name“T'ung Chi-li”or“Po Chi-li”or“Ts'ao Chi-li”in the drug market.After an examination of these seeds,it is proved that besides the drug Astragalus complanatus R.Br.from Shensi Pro- vince,there are three more kinds bearing the same commercial name“T'ung Chi-li”or“Sha Chi-li”(,which are Astragalus chinensis L.f.from Sungkiang and Hopeh Provinces,Swain- sona salsula(Pall.)Taub.from Inner Mongolia and Croialaria mucronata Desv.from Fukien and Kwangsi Provinces,though they all are seeds of leguminous plants too.The drug with the commercial name“Po Chi-li”( coming from northern part of Anhwei Province stands for Po-chow(is proved to be Astragalus adsurgens Pall.Astragalus sinicus L.,a com- mon plant grown as green fertilizer in the provinces of South China,is sold under the com- mercial name“Ts'ao Chi-li”( )meaning herbaceous Chi-li,in the northern part of Kiangsu Province.These are apparently the substitutes for the commercial drug“T'ung Chi-li” (Astragalus complanatus R.Br.)since all of them exhibit a more or less similar appearance to the latter. It is interesting to note that the fruits of Atriplex sibirica Linn.,of the family Chenopodiaceae, which usually bear soft spines on the lower portion of the fruiting bracts and give an effect similar to that of Chi-li(Tribulus terrestris Linn.)with spines off,are sold in the drug market of Shantung Province under the name“Juan Chi-li”( )or“Tung Chi-li”( The results of herbal and taxonomic studies obtained through the examination of 59 samples coming from 43 cities and districts belonging to 19 provinces and autonomous regions are given in the following table. In addition,botanical descriptions of plants and parts used for medicine are given in detail in the present paper,together with a key for identification and 8 drawings.Two illustrations taken from the herbals regarding the drugs under investigation are also included. ①T'ung(Kuan)and Sha-yuan.like Tung-chow and Chang-an mentioned above,are localities of the present Shensi Province,where these medicinal plants are indigenous. ②“Juan”means soft.referring to the fruit of Atriplex sibirica Linn.being much softer in texture than that of Tribulus terrestris Linn.“Tung”stands for Shantung Province.