In the present study the karyological characteristics of three species of the genusGlycyrrhizaL. were described. Nine populations ofG. echinata, one of G.glabra, and one of G.lepidota, which are known to be well differentiated morphologically, ecologically, and phytogeographically, but to have stable chromosome numbers, were examined. For each population the morphological type, total and relative lengths of chromosome pairs, the centromeric index, and index of karyotype asymmetry were determined. Significant differences in the karyotype were observed both between the species and between the populations ofG. echinata.