Investigation of Standard Chrysanthemum Cultivars in Six Cities of China

2732 copies of standard chrysanthemum cultivars were investigated,photographed in six representative cities of China.And their morphological characteristics were documented,of which 1429 cultivars were identified as standard chrysanthemum through morphological comparison analysis.The identified cultivars are classified into 8 types of colors,5 types of petals and 43 flower types.The yellow color is the major color and amounts to 500 cultivars,more than one of the third of the total cultivars,while only a few cultivars are green,double-color or variegated varieties.Flat petal type is the major petal type and amounts to 626 cultivars,44% of the whole investigated cultivars,followed by spoon petal and tubular petal type which are 414 and 305 cultivars respectively;while cultivars of anemone petal and abnormal petal types are comparatively uncommon(only 84 cultivars accounting for 6% of the total cultivars.Moreover,flowers are mainly of hydrangea type,including 187 cultivars(13.09% of the total cultivars).The study here will of significance for further survey and protection of standard chrysanthemum throughout China.