Summary Secondary association of chromosomes at metaphase I was noted in 61.94%, 60.00%, 50.38% and 21.74% meiocytes of Ocimum tenuiflorum-green type (2nϭ36), O. gratissimum (2nϭ40), O. canum (2nϭ26) and O. kilimandscharicum (2nϭ76) respectively. Secondary polyploidy has been attributed as the possible cause of secondary association of chromosomes and statistical analysis of cytological data revealed that the basic chromosome number in the species is 12 (xϭ6 for O. canum) with probable origin from xϭ6 through polyploidy.