A　facile　hydrothermal　method　is　developed　to　prepare　rutile　titania　sub-microflowers　consisting　of　nanorods　with　oxalic　acid　and　TiOSO4　as　reagents.　The　diameter　of　sub-microflowers　and　nanorods　is　found　to　be　ca.　800　and　40　nm,　respectively.　Also,　the　shape　and　size　of　building　blocks　in　rutile　titania　sub-microflowers　can　be　considerably　controlled　via　adjusting　the　reaction　time　and　reactant　amounts.　Rutile　titania　sub-microflowers　composed　of　nanorods　display　higher　discharge　capacity　and　better　rate　cycle　stability　than　other　rutile　titania　nanostructures　as　lithium-ion　battery　anode　material　due　to　enhancing　the　Li-ion　transfer　rate　for　small　size　building　blocks.　©　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.