Abstract: The lacquer tree has been planted in Yunnan for about 1700 years.Our recent investigations show that it is widely distributed all over the province and the most concentratively planting regions range in the northeastern and northwestern parts of Yunnan.Its resources is rich,and a good number of it are natural forests.We are dividing the lacquer tree into 3 varietal groups,11 varieties and 3 sub-varieies,on the basis of its morphological,anatomical,lacquer-chemical and plant geo-ecological characteristics as well as on the consideration of its economic effect.We suggest the classificatory system as follows:1.Valley varietal group including 3 varieties;2.Middle-Mountain varietal group including 5 varieties and 3 subvarieties;3.Plateau varietal group including 3 varieties.This investigation on the lacquer tree resources aims to meet the need for our further development of lacquer production.