The texture of a cold-rolled and heat-treated 50.8 Ti 49.2 Ni (at.%) sheet has been determined and designated as [l brace]110[r brace] left angle 1 anti 10 rightangle [sub p]. According to the crystallography of the martensitic transformation in TiNi this texture would result in a maximum planar anisotropy of the tensile shape memory strain. This anisotropy is confirmed by thermo-mechanical tests. Furhermore, the anisotropy of the permanent string during thermal cycling and of the strain associated with the formation of the R phase have been measured and explained. The knowledge of these orientation dependences can be useful regarding specific requirements of certain applications. (orig.)