茜草属是茜草科的模式属，全球约80种，主要分布于旧世界，我国约有41种，其中24种为中国特有。茜草属植物可作为染料和药材，具有重要的经济价值，然而最新研究显示该属还存在属内系统发育关系不明、物种划分不合理等诸多问题。本项目拟以中国茜草属植物为研究对象，通过广泛的野外考察、文献和标本查阅等工作，深入结合系统发育基因组学、宏观形态学和微形态学研究，进一步阐明茜草属内的系统发育关系，完善属下分类系统，评价各类性状的分类价值，并对国产茜草属类群进行相应的分类修订工作，为后续对茜草属的全面修订与生物地理学研究奠定基础，并为资源的合理开发利用提供依据。

Rubia L. is the type genus of the coffee family Rubiaceae and the third largest genera in the tribe Rubieae, comprising ca. 80 species restricted into the Old World. China is an important diversity center for Rubia where about half of its species (41 species) occur, 24 of which are endemic. Rubia can be used as dye and medicine, which has a great potential economic value. However, phylogenetic relationships and species delimitation within Rubia still need to be further elucidated. In this project, we attempt to adopt the multidisciplinary approach, which combines extensive field investigation and collection, specimens and literature collation with Plastid Phylogenomics study, and micro-morphological studies, to achieve a better phylogeny and infrageneric classification, to evaluate the taxonomic value of each trait, and to carry out an integrative taxonomic revision of some species of Rubia in China. Our project will be of significant importance for a revision and biogeographic study, as well as a better use of the genus.