Abstract: We focused on the systematic positions and relationships of three sections of Camellia subgenThea of Theaceae, i.e., sect.Longipedicellata, sect.Chrysantha (golden camellias) and sect.Longissima by using four chloroplast DNA regions (rpl16, psbAtrnH, trnLF & rpl32trnL). We sampled 28 species representing four subgenus, 11 sections in Camellia and two outgroups. Combined analyses of chloroplast DNA sequence data sets are performed with the neighborjoining, maximumparsimony and Bayesian inference methods, and the gene trees are constructed. The topologies of gene trees revealed that: 1) sect. Chrysantha is paraphyletic or polyphyletic, containing three parallel lineages and Camellia longipedicellata (type of sectLongipedicellata) nested inside; 2) all four species from Vietnam, together with C. longipedicellata, forming a wellsupported monophyletic clade, which implies the close relationship between sect. Longipedicellata and sect.Chrysantha; and 3) sectLongissima is not monophyletic because C.hekouensis is the sister to the rest of Camellia species. The systematic position of C.longissima and the relationship between sect.Longissima and sect.Longipedicellata are unsolved.

Key words: Camellia