Pollens of six taxa in the genus Atractytis L. confused with Atractylodes DC. were investigated by the light and the scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains of six taxa in this genus were monads, 46.5-66.7$mu extrm{m}$ in length of polar axis, 43.6-60.47$mu extrm{m}$ in equatorial width. Aperture was tri-colporate, 19.6-29.1 $mu extrm{m}$ in colpus length,7.3-11.0$mu extrm{m}$ in colpus width and 6.4-10.6$mu extrm{m}$ in porus diameter. The exine was composed of three layers(foot layer, columellne, tectum), and 5.2-8.3 $mu extrm{m}$ in thickness. The surface sculpturing pattern was echinate, the spines were 1.4-5.8$mu extrm{m}$ in length and 6-33 per 20$mu extrm{m}$$^2$ in distribution numbers over the surface. Atractylis L. was not distinguished from Atractylodes DC. by pollen morphology, especially the pollens of Atractylis arabica, A. aristata, A. carduus, A. microcephala were very similar to that of Atractylodes. But its taxonomic significance was different, the taxa of Atractylodes DC. were divided into 2 types by only pollen size, but the treated taxa in this study were divided into various types by pollen size, shape of equatorial view, surface sculpturing and spine size. The characteristics of spine size and shape of equatorial view in A. cancellata and A. prolifera were very useful for consideration of evolutionary trends in this genus.