Abstract: Pharmacognostical studies of Chestnut Epicarp were carried out by using morphological identification,tissue slice identification and powder identification. Gallic acid,chlorogenic acid and rutin were simultaneous determined by HPLC equipped with Hypersil ODS2 column and UV detection was used,the detection wavelength was set at 275 nm.The mobile phase was consisited of methanol and 0.4% phosphoric acid with gradient elution.The flow rate was 1.0 m L / min and the column temperature was at 30 ℃.The results showed that these features in transverse and longitudinal sections of Chestnut Epicarp,pericarp cell,stone cells groups and stone cell ring of sarcocarp,a large number of non-glandular hairs of endocarp and triangular vascular bundle located at the raphe site could be used as Chestnut Epicarp pharmacognostical characteristics,a dditionally,the powder characteristics of pericarp cell,stone cells and non-glandular hairs were pharmacognostical characteristics of Chestnut Epicarp,which laid the foundation to further study pharmacognostical quality standard of chestnut epicarp. The content range of gallic acid was 0.328 ~ 0.362 mg / g,chlorogenic acid was 0.129 ~ 0.141 mg / g,and rutin was 0.180 ~0.230 mg / g in the chestnut epicarp produced at 11 different places in Yunnan. The method was simple,accurate and specific.It can provide basis for the establishment of quality standard of chestnut epicarp.