Abstract: In this paper, the classification and distribution of Gentianaceae are researched based on the data of field investigation and specimens. The results show that 19 species and 1 variety in 6 genera of Gentianaceae are recorded in the Karakorum Mountains in China, among them there is 1 newly recorded species of Karakorum Mountains in China, it is Lomatogonium thomsonii, there are 3 newly recorded species of Xinjiang in China, and they are Gentiana ludlowii, Gentiana crenulato-truncata and Swertia wolfangiana. There are 7 species in 1 polytypic genus of Gentianaceae and 12 species in 5 monotypic genera in the Karakorum Mountains in China; the relations of flora in this area are the closest with those in the Pamirs of China, the similarity coefficients of genera and species are 85.7% and 53.3% respectively; secondly, the relations of flora in this area are close with those in Afghanistan and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the similarity coefficients of genera and species are 42.9% and 6.1%, 37.5% and 7.2%, respectively. The distribution-type of genera in Gentianaceae is temperate nature in this area. The 89.5% species of Gentianaceae in this area are therophytes which contain 17 species in 5 genera, and therefore they are the dominating components in the plant life form spectrum in this area, and 10.5% species of Gentianaceae in this area are Hemicryptophytes which contain 2 species in 1 genus.

Key words: Gentianaceae, taxonomy, Karakorum Mountains, China