Abstract: 【Objective】 To study the effect of shading on the leaf anatomical structure of three species of Ranunculaceae and their shade tolerance, so as to provide reference for the landscape application of Ranunculaceae species. 【Method】 The changes of leaf epidermal characteristics and anatomical structure under full light and 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% shading were systematically studied by using Ranunculus japonicus, Thalictrum fortunei and Delphinium anthriscifolium var. savatieri as materials. The principal component analysis method and membership function method were used to analyze the related indexes of leaf anatomical structure, calculated the weight of each index in the comprehensive score, and comprehensively evaluated the shade tolerance of three species. 【Result】 In the process of shading treatment of three species, with the increase of shading degree, the stomatal density of R. japonicus first decreased and then increased, while T. fortunei and D. anthriscifolium var. savatieri gradually decreased. Except R. japonicus, the thickness of the upper and lower epidermis of the other two species generally declined with the decrease of light. The leaf thickness of the upper epidermis of R. japonicus first decreased and then increased, while the leaf thickness of the lower epidermis first increased and then decreased. The leaf thickness of D. anthriscifolium var. savatieri gradually decreased with the increase of shading degree, while the leaf thickness of R. japonicus and T. fortunei increased first and then decreased. The palisade tissue thickness of the three species was negatively correlated with shading degree. With the increase of shading degree, the thickness of spongy tissue of T. fortunei gradually decreased, while that of R. japonicus and D. anthriscifolium var. savatieri increased first and then decreased. Except for the gradual decrease of the palisade-to-spongy tissue ratio of T. fortunei, the other two species showed a trend of first decreasing and then rising in palisade-to-spongy tissue ratio. The tightness of the tissue structure of the three species decreased first and then increased, while the tissue structure looseness was the opposite. The results of comprehensive evaluation showed that the order of contribution of indexes was spongy tissue thickness, leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness, stomatal density, leaf structure tissue looseness, upper epidermis thickness, palisade-to-spongy tissue ratio, leaf structure tissue tightness, lower epidermis thickness. The suitable shading environment for R. japonicus and D. anthriscifolium var. savatieri was 30% shading, while the growth effect of T. fortunei was better under 50% shading. 【Conclusion】 Three species of Ranunculaceae maintain their physiological functions to adapt to external light changes by regulating the microstructure of their leaves; spongy tissue thickness,leaf thickness,palisade tissue thickness and stomatal density can be used as reference indicators for screening shade tolerant varieties of Ranunculaceae plants.