Leaf trichomes of fifteen Cistus species and three C. incanus subspecies are studied in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All Cistus species secrete resin and essential oils in different amounts. All Cistus species therefore have secretorial trichomes, referred to as glands, all over the leaf surfaces. These are of three distinct shapes: 1. short stalked small heads, 2. long ball-headed tubes, and 3. long tubes.In addition, stellate hairs in different lengths and density, mostly on the upper as well as on the lower leaf surface are found on leaves of all other Cistus species with the exception of C. populifolius. Three species however, show stellate hairs only on the lower surface of the leaf; C. laurifolius, C. ladanifer and C. palhinhae. In addition six Cistus species have very long simple and mostly singular hairs. Only C. clusii shows a speciality in form of tuft hairs.These different shapes of leaf trichomes are very useful for a taxonomic classification of Cistus species.