Abstract: Based on the lectotypes of Araucaria cunninghamii and A. heterophylla, the status of those species as cited in Chinese taxonomic literature, such as Flora of Guangzhou, Dendrology of China, Iconographia Cormo-phytorum Sinicorum, Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae, Sylva Sinica, Flora of China and Higher Plants of China, was reviewed. Araucaria heterophylla has linear, acute juvenile leaves held at an angle of less than 45° to the branchlet and without an obvious adaxial keel and scale-like adult leaves on terminal branchlets; A. cunning-hamii has bilaterally compressed, subulate, shortly pungent juvenile leaves held at an angle of 45°–90° and with an obvious keel on both surfaces and tetragonous, subulate adult leaves on terminal branchlets. The names A. cunninghamii and A. heterophylla have been misapplied in Chinese taxonomic literature and should be A. hetero-phylla (Salisb.) Franco and A.