Abstract: In this paper，visualization of tissue section and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology were applied to investigate differences in the overall anthocyanin content，distribution and composition in different organs and tissues during the development of Primulina swinglei flowers. Seventeen anthocyanins were detected and identified，including cyanidin，peonidin，delphinidin，petunidin and malvidin，which were found in their glycosylated forms linked with sugars such as glucoside，rutinoside，acetyl rutinoside glycosides and other aglycones. The purple color in petals is due mainly to the high proportion（up to 64.0%）of bluish violet pigment of delphinidin，petunidin and malvidin. While the red cylinder color is possibly due to cyanidin and peonidin，which accounted for 36.7% and 20.0%，respectively，of the total anthocyanins. Before blooming，the total anthocyanin increased slowly and then became stable. The percentage of the red pigmented compounds decreased and bluish violet pigments increased during flower development，probably due to the increased contribution of petals to the total mass of the flower. After blooming，the content of anthocyanin decreased，probably due to the pigment degradation or dilution.

Key words: Primulina swinglei, anthocyanin, UPLC–Q–TOF–MS, flower organ tissue specificity, flower development