The genus Sphaerotrichia Kylin (Chordariaceae, Chordariales), distributed in the China coast, was studied in details. According to the morphological features and anatomy structure, the specimens can be divided into three species, Sphaerotrichia firma (Gepp.) A. Zinova, S.huanghaiensis Ding et Lu and S.japonica Kylin. S.firma is characterized by single or tuft frond, more or less evident main branch, 20-30 cm high, 1 -1.5 mm in diameter or more; the branches generally are at right angle to the main ones; loose or dense; irregularly alternated branching 2-3 times or lateral; center cells columniform in medulla, densely arranged, consist of 2-3 or 2 -5 layers of cells, cell wall thick; subcortical layer consists of 3-5 or 4-5 layers of cell; assimilated filaments often composed of 4-5 cells, with a swollen, spherical or oboval terminal cell; unilocular sporangia born on the basal cell of assimilated filaments, sessile, long oval, or long oboval, 70-80 μm long, 30-34 μm in diameter. S.huangaiensis Ding et lu is characterized by linear tuft frond, 6-23 cm high; main branch evident, often distorted, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, 1-2 alternated or lateral branching: bent branches often evident, with slightly swollen tips or growing into slender divergent branches; cell wall of the medulla thick, secondary tip-connection related to subcortical layer cells; subcortical layer thick in mature frond, consists of 5-6 layers of cells; assimilated filaments very often densely arranged, consist of 6-10 cells unilocular sporangia born on the base of assimilated filaments, sessile or petiolate with one to two cells, pyriform or oboval, 50-90 μm long, 20-30 μm in diameter. S.japonica Kylin is characterized by single or tuft frond, hollow, irregularly forked branching, 5-30 cm high; lateral or alternated branching 1-4 times with acute angle, main axes evident or not; branches 0.5-1 mm in diameter or thicker; the cell wall of medulla generally thick; subcortical layer composed of 2-3 layers of cells; assimilated filaments simple, short, consist of 3-5 cells, with an oboval or subround or pyriform terminal cell; unilocular sporangia born on the base of assimilated filaments, sessile, long spherical or oblong, 80-100 μm long, 20-32 μm wide. S.japonica is a newly recorded species in China. All specimens studied are preserved in the Herbarium of the Institute of Oceanology. Chinese Academy of Sciences.