Pugionium Gaertn.was originally separated from the genus Bunias,and the phylogenetic tree based on ndhF sequences suggested that Pugionium is sister to Megacarpaea and,together they are closely related to Farsetia,Lobularia,Iberis and Ionopsidium.Since the establishment of Pugionium,a total of five species and one variety(i.e.P.cornutum (L.) Gaertn,P.dolabratum Maxim.,P.calcaratum Kom.,P.cristatum Kom.,P.pterocarpum Kom.and P.dolabratum var.platypterum H.L.Yang) have been described under this genus.However,the morphologically statistical methods and molecular evidence showed that only two morphological species,namely P.dolabratum and P.cornutum,can be warranted.Furthermore,the results based on different DNA markers with contrasting genetic surroundings suggested that the genetic divergences between these two morphological species are very distinct,although the interspecific differentiation time is not too long.It is highly likely that the two sister species of Pugionium diverged within the recent Pleistocene in association with the expansion of deserts in central Asia and northern China.In this paper,we reviewed the research history and latest progress on the phylogenetic origin,classification,genetic evolution of the genus Pugionium Gaertn.,and put forward to some problems,inspirations and prospects on the studies of this genus.