Abstract: Two views on the systematic position of Primula secundiflora Franch. were presented by different scholars. This species has long been treated as a member of sect. Sikkimensis, owing to its campanulate corolla, but recently it was moved to sect. Proliferae based on other characteristics emphasized. In the present paper, the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA from eight Primula species (three in sect. Sikkimensis, four in sect. Proliferae together with P. secundiflora) were sequenced and analyzed. Based on the results,together with evidence from morphology and cytology, we consider that P. secundiflora should be placed in sect. Proliferae.

Key words: Primula secundiflora, ITS sequence, Sect. Proliferae, Sect. Sikkimensis