This study was carried out to investigate features pertaining to spiral thickenings, which was considered one of the most important diagnostic values, for wood identification. Species, kind of cells with spiral thickening, and ridge numbers of spiral thickening per axial mm were recorded in 71 families, 144 genera, 316 species of Korean hardwoods. Spiral thickening was observed in 128 of 316 species, about 40.5 % of all the investigated, and classified into 6 types on the basis of distributional patterns and morphological features as follows: 1. Type 1, present throughout all vessel element, which was found in 14 families, 19 genera, 43 species. 2. Type 2, present only in small vessel element, which was found in 18 families, 29 genera, 41 species. 3. Type 3, present both in small vessel element and wood fibers, which was found in 8 families, 17 genera, 29 species. 4. Type 4, present in wood fibers, which was found in 1 family, 1 genus, 1 species. 5. Type 5, present only in tail of vessel element, which was found in 4 families, 5 genera, 9 species. 6. Type 6, being present in vessel element faintly or partially, which was found in 2 families, 3 genera, 5 species.