Abstract: OBJECTIVE To clarify the origin of legal medicinal plants, which are made some chaos because of the change of classification system and species identification. METHODS Chinese crude drug standards of state, various provinces and autonomous regions were searched. Taxonomic books were also retrieved. Origins with problem were studied from classification system, species identification and so on. RESULTS In Chinese crude drug standards of state, various provinces and autonomous regions, there were 105 species belong to 5 families which from Proteaceae to Polygonaceae, 63 species without confusion in species identification and Chinese or Latin names, 1 specie' Latin name with trouble due to the genus names' synonyms, 5 species with confusion of Chinese names or Latin names due to the change of classification system. There were 11 species with problems of species identification and taxonomic grade, 25 species with problems of Chinese name confusion. Corrected the confusing species. CONCLUSION Problems in the origin of legal medicinal plants from Proteaceae to Polygonaceae are researched clearly through the study.