The selected leaf anatomical structures in terms of xeromorphic indices of the four species of Malus plants in western Sichuan plateau including thickness of leaves,cuticle thickness of upper and lower epidermis,thickness of upper and lower epidermis,thickness of palisade tissue and so on were observed and measured with paraffin sectioning method and NaOCl method,and the drought resistance of those plants were analyzed and evaluated by the methods of ANVOA,principal component analysis and membership function.The results were showed as follows:(1)the epidermal cell arrangements in four species of Malus plants were closeness and the sizes of upper epidermis were bigger than that of lower epidermis,with cuticle in surfaces of leaves.The thickest of epidermis and cuticule layer was observed on leaves of Malus toringoides.Meanwhile,the stoma only existed on lower epidermis and the densest stoma was found on leaves of Malus transitoria,which had the shortest stoma length and width as well as Malus hupehensis.In addition,the palisade tissues in four species leaves were composed of 2 to 3 layers palisade cells,and spongy parenchyma cell arrangements were slacking with high intercellular space.The biggest thickness of palisade tissue,palisade tissue and sponge tissue ratio and leaf structure were observed in leaves of Malus baccata.Furthermore,main veins were consisted of collateral vascular bundle and the biggest thickness of vascular bundle existed in leaves of Malus hupehensis.Crystal cells were found occasionally in its cortex.(2)Except for the cuticle thickness of lower epidermis,the other xeromorphic indices were significantly different among four plants,and eight indices including cuticle thickness of upper epidermis,thickness of lower epidermis,thickness of palisade tissue and so on were selected as typical items for evaluation of drought resistance of four species.(3)The order of drought resistance capability of four species of Malus plants was presented as follow:Malus toringoides＞Malus baccata＞Malus transitoria＞M.hupehensis.