Abstract: rhizobial strains,isolated from root nodules of 51 species of woody legumes(5 genera in subfamily Mimosoideae and 18 genera in subfamily Papilionoideae) were inoculated with two tree legumes ( Robinia pseudoacacia,Albizia julibrissin )and two herbaceous legumes ( Glycine max, Pisum sativum ). 50 days after cultivation of legume seedlings,the nodulation rates of the locust,silk tree,soybean and pea were 100%,87.9%,69.7% and 25.8% respectively.Among all the rhizobial strains 12 were nodulated on all of the 4 leguminous species,29 on locust, silk tree and soybean,and 4 on locust,silk tree and pea simultaneously.It has been shown that the root nodule bacteria of woody legumes have a wide range of hosts,but each rhizobial strain makes a great difference in affinity with different legumes,nodulation characters and nitrogen-fixing capacity.It seems that the host plant usually determines the shape and color of the nodules.